By Tom Garba-Abuja
In the heart of Northern Nigeria, where the cries of persecuted Christians echo through villages ravaged by violence, Building Zion, a Gospel-driven construction mission, is stepping in to bear the burdens of the suffering.
Led by CEO Alexander Barbir, the organization has spent April and May 2025 delivering critical aid, rebuilding communities, and proclaiming the love of Christ in the face of unimaginable evil.
Building Zion is planting a church, constructing a primary and secondary school, and working on other buildings aimed at advancing God’s kingdom in the region
Building Zion, founded with the vision that “every tribe and every tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord,” focuses on meeting basic necessities through construction projects while sharing the Gospel.
In Nigeria, a country Barbir describes as a “massive mission field” due to its dire need for both spiritual and humanitarian support, the organization has launched several initiatives in Plateau State.
These include drilling three boreholes—one in the recently attacked village of Miango, another for a missionary training center that sends workers to Nigeria’s unreached, and a third for the Civil Security Defense HQ of Plateau State.
Additionally, Building Zion is planting a church, constructing a primary and secondary school, and working on other buildings aimed at advancing God’s kingdom in the region.
The mission’s efforts come at a critical time. Northern Nigeria, particularly Plateau State, has been a hotspot for Christian persecution, with Fulani militants, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and the emerging Lakurawa group targeting believers in brutal attacks.
The reality in Nigeria is far worse than known or reported,” Barbir states, estimating that the number of Christians killed annually could be 50% to double the figures reported by organizations like Open Doors
Just this month, two major assaults in Bokkos and Miango claimed nearly 150 lives, while smaller, unreported attacks have killed around 20 more in Miango alone over two weeks.
Barbir recounts a heartbreaking incident in Zogu village, where, the day after his team surveyed for a borehole, Fulani militants attacked a nearby home, killing a father and his two sons—one of whom was beheaded.
“The reality in Nigeria is far worse than known or reported,” Barbir states, estimating that the number of Christians killed annually could be 50% to double the figures reported by organizations like Open Doors.
He challenges the narrative often pushed by officials that the violence stems from a “farmer-herder conflict,” asserting instead that it is a deliberate campaign by Islamic Fulani to “expel and exterminate” Christians.
The Fulani hate Christians, desire to exterminate them, and will do so at their pleasure with no repercussions
“The Fulani hate Christians, desire to exterminate them, and will do so at their pleasure with no repercussions,” he says, pointing to the lack of accountability as a failure of the Nigerian government. “Blood is no longer on the hands of the Fulani, but the very government that is charged to protect its citizens.”
Despite the horrors—beheadings, burned villages, and the slaughter of children—Building Zion has been a beacon of hope.
In Zikke village, Miango, where over 50 Christians were killed and dozens of homes burned in a dawn attack on April 15, the organization delivered over 8,000 feet of wood, 1,000 roofing sheets, nails, and other materials to rebuild every destroyed home.
Barbir and his team spent days ministering to villagers, conducting damage assessments, and planning further support. In Bokkos and Miango, they distributed thousands of pounds of maize to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and victims of recent attacks, offering both physical sustenance and spiritual encouragement.
The evils I have seen in my short time here have been haunting
Barbir’s heart for the forsaken is rooted in Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.” He sees this mission as a direct call to walk alongside those suffering, sharing the hope of Christ while meeting tangible needs. “The evils I have seen in my short time here have been haunting,” he admits, having shed tears over the atrocities despite not being a direct victim.
Yet, he finds inspiration in the resilience of Nigerian Christians. “The lengths and depths that some believers in Nigeria will go to reach the unreached is remarkable,” he says. “Their hearts for God, even in the midst of such suffering, is a faith that I look up to.”
In a striking reflection, Barbir suggests that the Western church has much to learn from its African counterpart. “Africa needs to not look up to the Western church, but the Western church needs to look up to the African church and sit under its teaching and discipleship,” he declares, praising the “true disciples of the Lord” he has encountered in Nigeria.
Building Zion’s work extends beyond Nigeria. The organization also responds to crises like the M23 conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where humanitarian needs are dire. But in Nigeria, where the persecution of Christians is intensifying, their presence is a lifeline for communities under siege.
Fulani and other terrorist groups will continue to “ravage villages and massacre innocent Christians
As Barbir continues his mission, he calls for greater awareness of the crisis and urges security forces to act with integrity, warning that without divine intervention and accountability, the Fulani and other terrorist groups will continue to “ravage villages and massacre innocent Christians.”
Read Also: Bokkos Bleeds While Nigeria Watches: When Will Enough Be Enough of This ‘Targeted Annihilation?’
