Nigeria continues to face anti-Christian violence that began nearly a decade ago in Africa’s most populous country.
Open Doors UK says Christians in Nigeria continue to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed “bandits” – particularly in the north and central regions of the country.
Nigeria has around 230 million people, almost evenly divided by Christians and Muslims.
Open Doors UK says more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined, and notes men and boys are often specifically targeted, with women and girls often abduction and sexually assaulted.
Most of the attacks against Christians come from Boko Haram – an Islamist militant group in the predominantly Muslim north of the country – and Islamic Fulani militants primarily located in the middle of the country, which is more mixed between Christians and Muslims.
Mike Arnold, the mayor of the Texas city of Blanco, visits Nigeria quite often, supporting the Christian communities in the African nation.
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Currently, there are over 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDP’s) in the country fleeing anti-Christian attacks.
Arnold just recently returned from a visit to Nigeria, where he has established the Africa Arise charity to support the education of the internally displaced children.
“From my experience and observation, most IDPs are women and children, widows and orphans. Literally countless numbers of these live in abject squalor due to no fault of their own. Many are highly educated and qualified professionals but are stuck in impoverished camps with seemingly no way out,” the Texas mayor told Crux.
“Incredibly, the children who live as IDPs today are the lucky ones, who escaped massacre, sex slavery and the harsh elements to survive. These are divided into two primary groups, those who were made orphans by Boko Haram and saw their parents brutally slaughtered, and now a multitude who were born and are growing up displaced,” Arnold said.
2Many know nothing about this world other than the sub-human encampments they were born into. Yet everywhere I visit with IDPs in Nigeria, I find them to be faithful, bright, hopeful, and dedicated to doing their part to make things better,” he added.
What follows is the full interview by Crux with Arnold.
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Crux: Can you tell us something about the displaced Christians in Nigeria?
Arnold: Nigeria’s internal displacement crisis began in 2013 with the genocidal onslaught of Boko Haram, and it persists to this day due to regional unrest which drives the ongoing massacre and displace primarily of Christians.
Estimates from international organizations say today there are anywhere from 3-5 million IDPs [Internally Displaced Persons] in Nigeria. Some informed observers say it could be two or three times that. From first-hand experience, I know of numerous camps whose existence is denied by the government, so I tend to think the larger estimates are more accurate.
Only a fraction live in formal, recognized camps. (Many refuse invitations to these camps because they believe they will be required to convert to Islam to eventually leave them.) Nobody knows for sure the number of informal encampments that are scattered all over the country. Many live as homeless, and others are taken in by family, or churches. Some eventually find footing to start a new life, while for the majority mere survival is all they can achieve.
From my experience and observation, most IDPs are women and children, widows and orphans. Literally countless numbers of these live in abject squalor due to no fault of their own. Many are highly educated and qualified professionals but are stuck in impoverished camps with seemingly no way out.
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Mike Arnold speaks with Yohanna A Ngbako, the chief in the area of the Wasa IDP camp outside Abuja, marking off ground that Africa Arise has acquired for building a school. (Credit: Given by Mike Arnold.)
Incredibly, the children who live as IDPs today are the lucky ones, who escaped massacre, sex slavery and the harsh elements to survive. These are divided into two primary groups, those who were made orphans by Boko Haram and saw their parents brutally slaughtered, and now a multitude who were born and are growing up displaced. Many know nothing about this world other than the sub-human encampments they were born into.
Yet everywhere I visit with IDPs in Nigeria, I find them to be faithful, bright, hopeful, and dedicated to doing their part to make things better.
Which areas are most affected?
Boko Haram and the continued unrest are centered in the far North and Northeast regions of Nigeria, which have been under Sharia law for nearly a thousand years.
That said, the IDP crisis affects the entire nation. IDP camps, informal encampments, and homeless are all over the country. The drain on resources is felt by all. The economy is hurt by the removal from the labor force of such a number of capable people. And in the big picture, this ongoing injustice undermines the peace, unity and spiritual environment of everyone in Nigeria.
Why should Americans particularly care about what is going on there? And do you think the U.S. government could do more to help?
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Americans should care for a number of reasons.
Practically speaking, most don’t know that Nigerian Americans are the wealthiest and best educated segment of our population. By and large, Nigerian people are bright, entrepreneurial, faithful and uphold the highest values and integrity. Nigeria is the sixth largest nation on earth by population, the largest economy in Africa, and contains nearly a quarter of the population of the entire continent. It is one of the top 5 nations in OPEC, rich with natural resources of all kinds. They have great potential to rise in global prominence, and this is a good thing.
Spiritually, Nigerian Christians have unashamedly and without wavering held the line on upholding traditional, Biblical theology. In the face of unimaginable hardship, they live a life of vibrant, sincere Christian faith. They are an example and inspiration.
Culturally, we’re not so different. English is the official language of the nation. I’ve found Nigerians of all ages easy to communicate with and relate to personally.
Nigeria is around half Christian – but there are many denominations. Is the current anti-Christian violence help bring Christians together?
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In a practical sense, yes, I find Nigerian Christians united across denominations unified in their practice of true and pure religion, which is selfless service to humanity. In the field, as we serve together, pray together, and worship together, nobody ever bothers asking what church you go to. We who are many form one Body as we focus on Christ and the work He called us to.
And yes, those in threatened communities, and living displaced, seem to have put aside all denominations and nuanced theological disputes, as they are pressed together by shared tribulation.
Years ago, under selfless leadership, including a term by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Christian Association of Nigeria was a broad-based and influential group. Unfortunately, it has drifted into being largely irrelevant due to political infighting and perhaps misguided motivations.
You are a Texan, but have been involved in Nigeria for years – what initially brought you there, and why do you keep going back?
In 2010, a good friend of mine was invited to keynote a large, 20th annual international ministry leadership conference in Nigeria, organized by the inter-denominational group Unity for Africa. My friend invited me along as a traveling companion… and then, at the last minute he had to back out! The organizers were stuck, and I was unexpectedly thrust into that position. Something must have clicked, because they invited me back to do it again the next year, and I was eager to return.
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Letter to Mike Arnold from Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who served as the president of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. (Credit: Given by Mike Arnold.)
Through that, I was blessed to be closely mentored for several years by an amazing man of God, the late Prof. John Ofoegbu, the founder of Unity for Africa. We lived in the same hometown in the U.S. and traveled Nigeria together extensively till his untimely passing.
He helped me discover a deep spiritual connection to the nation and its people, and a compelling vision of its potential to advance the Kingdom of God. I believe that what man has long called the Dark Continent, God is bringing forth as the Continent of Light in this generation. I often beg them to send missionaries to us!
There are times I feel more at home there than I do here. At first I felt sorry for them because of what they lack that we take for granted. Things like stable electricity, orderly traffic, air conditioning, drinkable tap water, public sanitation, and such. But after awhile, that sentiment has shifted 180 degrees. Now I feel sorry for us, for things we lack but they take for granted. Like family, integrity, faith-centered life, hard work, honor. To me, these are what matter most in a community, and I at home when I’m surrounded by people like that.
Ultimately, I keep going back because I feel called by God to do so. I believe God has a bright future in store for Nigeria, and I want to be part of what He is doing. He has gripped me with a vision and passion for these people and their amazing potential. My dearest, deepest friends in the world are in Nigeria, as are the people I most admire and respect. And God has given me access and favor at the highest levels there, as I’ve pursued my calling.
Can you tell us more about the Africa Arise charity?
Africa Arise is comprised of a 501c3 charity in the U.S., with a sister entity in Nigeria. It was founded in 2019 by me and my covenant brother Pastor Jed D’Grace in Abuja, Nigeria. We started out primarily focused on evangelism and leadership development, until a series of unexpected events led us to discover the New Kuchingoro IDP camp, right in the nation’s capital.
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The people in this camp were displaced by the Gwoza Massacre, nearly 500 miles away in far Northeast Nigeria, surviving horrific trauma and hardship. For dark political reasons, the camp itself is officially denied by their government as well as the UN. The IDPs, including numerous college graduates, are forced to live in shanties they built themselves, with no sanitation, water, electricity, or any formal of support.
When I asked a woman in camp how we could help, she didn’t ask for food, water, money, housing, healthcare, or anything else they obviously lack. Instead, she asked us to help teach the children of the camp. She said with an education, they will have strength of character, vision for the future, and a path out of the camp.
In the summer of 2020, we founded the Arise Academy to serve youth stuck in IDP camps, starting in the Abuja area. Today we employ 15 full-time teachers and provide a free, high-quality education to some 520 IDP children. We have schools running in two camps, have broken ground for a school in a new camp. We are able to do this through donations from individuals, civic organizations, and church mission boards.
We have identified numerous other camps in the area which need schools, and know there are countless more around the country. We aim to keep growing to meet the needs until all Nigeria IDPs are able to go home in peace.
Presently we are working on a documentary film of the highest caliber, to bring this story to the world’s attention. We have launched an online petition at www.change.org/idpjustice, and are engaging top Nigerian Christian influencers to spread the word. Also, we are working with the dean of Nigerian Gospel music, Panam Percy Paul, and others to produce a series of large, music-based outreach events across Nigeria this fall, to raise awareness and funds for IDP restoration.
The Waco Bridge isa nonprofit local news organization supported by The Texas Tribune, reporting on Waco government, education and community. Sign up for the Bridge’s free newsletter here.
Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our AI policy, and give us feedback.
Jim Wallingsford drove his white Chevy truck one morning last month down North Walnut Street in Lacy Lakeview, dodging potholes on his way to inspect a repair project on a sewer lift station.
As public works director for this Waco suburb of 8,000 residents, Wallingsford is always triaging the city’s needs: Cracked and cratered streets, aging pipes and pump stations and the old water tower, which needs a $1 million facelift.
The Connally Lift Station under repair on April 16. The lift station pumps sewage from deeper underground to a higher elevation. “You know the shape that our streets are in, our water and sewer mains are in the same shape. We replace when we can and repair when we have to,” Wallingsford said. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
“I want to be a good steward of the City of Lacy Lakeview with the money I’m given to spend,” he said. “So I give everything a weighted scale and I base it off of the likelihood and consequences of failure.”
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Out of two water towers in Lacy Lakeview, this one needs significant repairs, including a new catwalk and paint. In the meantime Wallingsford said “I wouldn’t send anyone up there.” Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Lacy Lakeview, population 8,000, is typical of many small Texas towns that lack the resources to keep up with streets and pipes that are wearing out. Most of that infrastructure in Lacy Lakeview was installed more than 50 years ago. And the longer maintenance is deferred, the faster it deteriorates.
Water from the City of Waco is pumped into the storage tank on the right, before being pressurized with compressed air from the smaller tank, and pumped into the Lacy Lakeview’s water system. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Mayor Chuck Wilson has pointed to the city’s maintenance backlog to justify the pursuit of a data center. He wants to partner with Infrakey to develop and annex a proposed $10 billion data center north of town near Ross.
That development represents tax base that would increase Lacy Lakeview’s tax base enough to increase city tax revenues from $6.5 million to $50 million a year. But the project has drawn a backlash from neighbors of the Infrakey site, as well as from some Lacy Lakeview residents, who just elected data center opponent Amy Gage to the City Council.
Cars often crash into raised manhole covers along Route 77 in Lacy Lakeview. The city would replace or relocate the manholes with additional tax revenue from the proposed Infrakey data center. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
As Wallingsford sees it, the city needs new development, or the existing taxpayer and utility ratepayers will be on the hook for improvements.
“Everything that we purchase is going up, literally,” he said. “The only other solution is that we have to have a rate increase just to be able to keep up.”
Wallingsford said a dump truck will be the first pieces of equipment replaced once more funding is secured. “We’re going to have to get at least one dump truck,” Wallingsford said. “ I’d like to get two in this next year’s budget because, you know, these dump trucks are 25 years old.” The current maintenance outweighs the cost of the current fleet. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Wallingsford stopped his truck at the Meyers water pump station, which was under repair after it was observed to be leaking.
“The consequence of them failing is pretty high but their issues aren’t critical and they continue to operate,” he said. “The city only needs one pump to operate and we have three, so there’s a backup.
The Meyers Pump Station in Lacy Lakeview is outdated and in need of upgrade as of April 16. The pumps leak, even when they aren’t running. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
“At the end of the day when something fails, we go back and work off of the plan.”
Wallingsford, a former city of Waco staffer, said utility infrastructure like this typically has a 50-year lifespan, and the ideal practice in public works is to set aside 2% of the system’s cost each year for replacement.
“I haven’t worked for a city that’s ever done that,” he said.
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Even more visible is the wear and tear on Lacy Lakeview’s 30 miles of city streets. Asked which ones need to be repaved, he didn’t hesitate.
“All of them,” he said. “They all need to be done. I’d say we have about 15 critical streets” that need to be repaved.
South Barbara Street is the first street on the list to be repaired in Lacy Lakeview in 2026. The city currently has a 30-mile backlog of streets that need significant work. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
A view down Avenue B at its intersection with South Barbara Street shows the contrast of before and after. Avenue B was rehabilitated last year using the city’s “zipper” recycling machine, while South Barbara Street, seen at center, awaits its fix. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
The city is now repairing and reconstructing streets using a $9.5 million bond issue that voters approved in 2024. To save money, the city is using its own workers and equipment to grind up and recycle pavement, which is then compacted and resealed.
Among the most critical projects is Walnut Street, which is being reconstructed along with replacement of water, sewer, fiber optic and gas utilities under the street. That project is to be completed in February 2027.
Wallingsford explained: “That is what our guys do probably eight months out of the year. They use this zipper machine here to eat up the old asphalt. Then we compact it with a rolling machine over there, and then we come back and chip seal the existing roads. It’s a cheaper way of getting the potholes out of the roads and giving the citizens a smoother surface to drive on.” The equipment was purchased in a bond election to save the city money by paying outside contractors to repave the city’s streets. Previously the maintenance department was only able to fill potholes. Justin Hamel/The Waco Bridge/CatchLight Local/Report for America
HARRIS COUNTY, TX – On a February afternoon, 2 Investigates showed up to a North Harris County strip mall.
Minutes earlier, deputies raided what law enforcement described as an illegal gaming room operating in plain sight. The operation to shut down the room ended quickly, as one person was arrested and more than 80 gaming machines were seized. The scene was littered with evidence, including cash and a firearm.
However, what 2 Investigates uncovered was a bigger component after the raid: this was not a new location.
“We’ve been here a couple of times,” said Lt. Jeffrey Lee with Harris County Constable Precinct 4, referring to the same location being raided in September of last year.
Law enforcement officials, from investigators to prosecutor, we spoke with over the course of our investigation say these operations have become increasingly common across the Houston area and Texas.
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“It’s extremely common. We run these operations numerous times,” Lee said.
Why authorities say these operations matter
Every member of law enforcement, from the courts to the streets, we spoke with during our months-long investigation made it clear that illegal gaming rooms create more than just gambling concerns.
“At its base, these gaming operations prey on the vulnerable members of our community-those on a fixed income, older people-promising these huge payouts that never materialize,” said Lee, who went on to add, “At its wider angle, these are funding operations for much more serious criminal enterprises like human trafficking, drug trafficking, and things like that.”
Criminal defense attorney Rick Detoto, who has experience with these cases, said the locations for these rooms can also become magnets for violent crime
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“They are targets.” Detoto went on to add, “There is a lot of cash there, their security is minimal at best, and they go in there and they rob them and people get shot and there are capital murders and aggravated robberies and all kinds of stuff that come out of those game rooms.”
Houston police raid Lucky J Social Club in Midwest Houston, arrest several in illegal gambling bust
In February, an illegal game room in Southwest Houston was the site of the shooting death of a security guard during a robbery.
A raid is underway in Harris County of an illegal game room (KPRC 2026)
The “8-Liner” loophole
At the center of the gaming controversy are machines commonly known as “8-liners.” These are not unfamiliar machines for Texans, as many can be found inside gas stations, convenience stores, or small strip mall businesses. Under Texas law, certain gaming devices may legally operate if they are considered entertainment-only machines and do not provide illegal cash payouts. In some cases, stores may offer small prizes or store credits instead.
However, critics and elected leaders have asked for clarification from the state, saying some operators exploit a gray area in the law centered around whether a machine is considered a “game of skill” or a “game of chance.”
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What is the difference between a game of skill and a game of chance?
As Detoto explained, “A game of chance [is] you press a button and there is a computer program that randomly picks the numbers or the fruit or whatever and you win, compared to a game of skill where it’s based on memory or perception or your timing, where you are kind of playing a game and you have to remember things. That’s the loophole that these people are exploiting, and it’s allowing some of these games to be legally put into these stores.”
Warrants executed at 20 locations around Hitchcock believed to be involved in illegal gambling operation
Investigators say some operators allegedly go beyond the legal boundaries by offering cash payouts either privately or openly. 2 Investigates found one machine advertising as much in Fort Bend County.
Detoto said the machines are becoming more common throughout everyday neighborhoods, including his. “I’ve started to notice them every time I get gas,” he said. “I go in to get a Coke or something to drink, water-there are three 8-liners there that weren’t there before.”
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A raid is underway in Harris County of an illegal game room (KPRC 2026)
Raids, auctions, and recycled machines
Authorities say shutting down illegal game rooms can become expensive for taxpayers due to investigations, raids, manpower, and evidence storage. However, another issue emerged during our investigation: many confiscated machines are not destroyed after they are seized. Instead, there are law enforcement jurisdictions that auction them off.
Investigators confirmed to us that some of those machines seized by other agencies eventually make their way back into circulation because they’ve been made available again, “We do see reintroduction of machines and the equipment that come from these game rooms back in again,” Lee said.
Lee’s constable office does not engage in the practice of auctioning off machines.
How did Detoto describe the system? “It’s a revolving door of law enforcement seizing the machines, waiting until a case gets resolved, selling them, making a profit for the asset funds, and doing it over again.”
Multiple sources interviewed for this story questioned whether current enforcement efforts are actually deterring illegal operations.
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Detoto said criminal prosecutions tied to 8-liners are relatively rare.
“I’ve never seen, in my experience, anyone go to jail for these 8-liners.” The Houston-based defense attorney added, “The prosecutors don’t have the time to deal with these cases. They are not the most important case on their docket.”
Lee agreed that stronger oversight and penalties may be needed: “There is room for improvement with regards to the oversight, the laws, and the stuff that concerns these gaming rooms-that we could actually enact some stiffer penalties to discourage this behavior.”
When 2 Investigates asked whether Texas lawmakers need to do more, Lee responded: “We would like to see some improvements, yes.”
A police officer seizes an illegal gaming machine in north Harris County, Texas (KPRC 2026)
Calls for legislative change
Texas State Senator Bob Hall, who represents Senate District 2, said the current system leaves too much room for abuse. “We need to do more to make sure that we can shut down and stop the operation of the illegal game rooms,” said Hall, who added, “There is no question about that.”
During an interview at his Dallas-area office, Hall acknowledged that changing the law could prove to be difficult. “It will be a challenge because it will depend on our local law enforcement doing its job the way it should be done,” Hall said.
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Bottom line for Hall regarding a problem hiding in plain sight? “There is no reason for a gambling machine to exist in Texas.”
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
The oil and gas industry is king in Texas, but it still doesn’t have enough power to save Republican incumbents.
The state’s largest oil producers couldn’t stop hard-right activist Bo French from winning the Republican runoff Tuesday for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission — despite pouring money into the campaign of incumbent Jim Wright. An oil and gas fundraising advantage also wasn’t enough to keep four-term Sen. John Cornyn from losing his Senate primary to Texas Attorney General and MAGA darling Ken Paxton.
The twin losses are animating Democrats, who see an opening for a spot on Texas’ powerful oil and gas regulatory commission — and for a Senate seat that could help decide which party controls the chamber come 2027.
“While Republicans are facing their nightmare scenario… Democrats are one step closer to winning a Senate majority,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
