So many Christians around the world are living in “constant combat,” persecuted daily for their faith in Christ. One prominent example are the Christians in Nigeria who live each day wondering if they will be the next victims of attacks from terrorist groups like Boko Haram. Churches and villages are commonly burned to the ground, over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria this year alone, and there’s been a spike in the number of attacks that result in dozens to hundreds of people (often children) being taken captive.

One such instance occurred recently, in which more than 300 students from a Nigerian Catholic school were kidnapped by unknown assailants. It wasn’t until this past weekend that about 50 were able to escape and return to their families. However, that means over 250 are still missing, likely being held hostage by extremists — all while the Nigerian government does little to nothing about it.

President Donald Trump recently designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the severe violations of religious freedom. But as guest host Jody Hice asked on Tuesday’s “Washington Watch,” will this designation “move the needle on all of this?” Additionally, what more can we know about the students who were kidnapped and remain in captivity? To discuss this further, Hice was joined by Clint Lyons, executive director of iReach Global, an organization dedicated to serving persecuted believers in Africa.

“On my last trip to Nigeria,” Lyons said, “I had a chance to talk with several of the people there who had gone into many of these areas where the attacks had taken place. They walked through the broken glass on the ground, saw the smoldering buildings, and have seen … the freshly dug … mass graves that are there. And I can tell you that what we’re seeing in the media … is one thing. But … the reality on the ground is so much more devastating.”

As Lyons recalled his time with the people in these regions facing such violence, he highlighted a sobering reality. “[A]s I see their faces,” he said, “and especially the people who … live in this constant combat right now, they’re sleeping with one eye open and just praying they make it through the next day.”

“I cannot even imagine what they’re going through,” Hice stated. “I know my wife and I, and millions of others, are praying for this situation.” Drawing attention back to the kidnapped students, Hice asked, “What more do we know? … Do we have any information [about] their whereabouts or condition right now?” As Lyons explained, “We don’t have a solid idea of much of what happened. In fact, we … aren’t even 100% sure who these people are at this point.” However, he added, “What we do know is that these 300 girls were kidnapped. Over 300 girls, plus … many of their teachers. … Some of them that were able to escape. … [But] the prognosis for a situation like this is unfortunately not a positive one.” Even for those who did escape, he noted how many of them are not able to talk and tell their story due to the trauma.

Lyons laid out the harsh reality: “[O]ften, we see these kidnappings happen and these girls are sold into slavery, or they are forced … at gunpoint [to convert to] Islam. …. I’m praying that we can figure out a way to … see some progress here. But … it’s dire right now.” And as he further emphasized, it’s not just Nigeria — “it’s all across the [continent]. The situation is dire for Christians.”

Hice revisited President Trump’s CPC label, asking Lyons, “What sort of impact do you think might come from the Trump administration’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern?” Lyons applauded it as “a great move” and a “big step,” adding that Nigeria has “needed to be on this list for a long time.” Initially, he went on to say, “We saw Nigeria kind of snap back in line and put forward a face that they were going to cooperate. [But] in the past few weeks, we’ve seen less of that. … And so, my prayer is that this can get resolved through diplomacy, through sanctions, through targeted limiting of bank accounts and freezing funds. And I think — I believe — it can. … But now is the time for action.”

Hice agreed, emphasizing that “now [is] certainly the time for political action, but it’s also time for action with Christians. How can we best be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ there?” Lyons replied, “Pray for safety, obviously, and pray that the bold witness of Christ would continue to move forward.”

For these Christians in Nigeria,” he concluded, “it’s really hard for them right now. … [They] go to bed every night and sleep with one eye open because we don’t know where they’re going to attack next. These were at one time confined attacks to a certain area. [But] now, we see them spreading across the country unchecked. And so, pray for courage.”