San Antonio priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Offor, describes faith under fire in Nigeria and why Christmas Day airstrikes brought hope to families living with constant fear.
SAN ANTONIO — A Nigerian Catholic priest now living in San Antonio says fear has become a constant reality for families in his home diocese, as years of kidnappings and deadly attacks by extremist groups continue to disrupt daily life across parts of Nigeria.
Father Jude Offor, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Minna in Niger State, says residents live under the threat of sudden violence — afraid to farm, worship, or send their children to school.
“The people in Niger State have been living through a prolonged and painful reality of insecurity,” Offor said. “Fear of abduction. Fear of sudden attacks.”
His comments come after U.S.-backed airstrikes targeted Islamic State-linked militant camps in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day. President Donald Trump said the strikes were ordered in response to what he described as the targeting and killing of Christians by ISIS militants.
According to Nigeria’s information ministry, the strikes hit two camps hidden in the Bauni Forest in Sokoto State and were aimed at foreign fighters infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region. Sixteen GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper drones launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea. The operation was approved by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu following extensive intelligence gathering.
U.S. Africa Command said the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, a point later echoed by Nigeria’s foreign ministry.
Nigeria’s government reported no civilian casualties.
While the Trump administration has repeatedly highlighted what it describes as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, analysts note that extremist violence has affected both Christians and Muslims in the country. Nigeria has battled Islamist insurgents, bandits, and armed groups for more than a decade, but officials say the presence of foreign ISIS-linked fighters represents an escalation of the threat.
Trump later posted on social media that the U.S. carried out “numerous, perfect strikes” against ISIS militants. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said further action could follow.
Trump did not provide additional details about casualties or specific targets.
For Offor, the violence is deeply personal.
“I did this interview, not to undermine my great country or anybody, but rather to tell my own story in my own way,” Offor explained.
He says entire villages have been displaced, schools have shut down, and families live in fear that loved ones may never return home.
“They cannot afford to go to farm. Cannot afford to go to church to worship. They can’t send their kids to school,” he said. “As I speak to you now, all the schools in Niger State are closed.”
Nigerian authorities say 130 children and teachers abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State have been freed after about a month in captivity. Many appeared malnourished or traumatized, highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, where school kidnappings have become increasingly common.
Offor says he knows victims by name and recalls being called to help search for a fellow priest who was shot.
“[We] went into the forest and found him by the road lying dead shot in his stomach, so we had to bring him back and take him to the morgue,” said Offor.
Another priest, he said, was killed after attackers poured gasoline around his rectory — the home where he lived near the church — and set it on fire.
Offor believes the Christmas Day airstrikes may have prevented another planned attack.
“Trump’s intervention, for me, is a gift — a Christmas gift,” he said. “That attack saved many lives.”
Still, Offor says his support is rooted in a desire for peace — not revenge.
“As a priest, my hope is rooted in the protection of life and the pursuit of peace. No priest would advocate for violence,” he explained. “But you see, that was the first time after a long while that Nigerians could breathe and celebrate Christmas peacefully…If this will bring about peace, if its the last option where all Christians and Muslims can live harmoniously together in one community, then let it be. That is why I said I am happy and I can say many Nigerians are happy, too.”
Now serving at St. Paul Catholic Church in San Antonio, Offor says he is sharing his story to raise awareness and push for international support.
“The truth is Nigeria needs external help,” he said. “People are dying — whether Muslim or Christian — these are human beings.”
He is urging Americans to pray, advocate, and support peace efforts so families can return to school, work, worship, and daily life without fear.
“This is the time to defend the dignity of the human being,” Offor said. “I pray that someday Nigeria will be peaceful again.”
St. Paul Catholic Church in San Antonio is also helping support families back home by collecting and sending financial donations to his home diocese in Niger State.
