Nazila Ghanea, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, says widespread insecurity, violence and impunity are undermining religious freedom in Nigeria.
Ghanea spoke on Friday in Abuja while presenting her
preliminary observations at the end of an 11-day official visit to Nigeria.
The UN envoy visited Nigeria from June 8 to June 19. She met
with government officials, security agencies, judicial officers, religious
leaders, civil society groups, victims of violence and representatives of the
diplomatic community.
According to Ghanea, concerns over insecurity dominated
virtually all discussions on freedom of religion or belief during the visit.
She said the violence, ranging from terrorism and banditry
to kidnappings, land grabbing and attacks on communities, has spread across
many parts of the country.
“Discussion of freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria
elicits very acute concerns about insecurity, violence and conflict which has
spread throughout the country and has generated huge alarm,” she said.
“These include terrorist actions, gang violence and banditry
incursions, land grabbing to mass displacement, armed conflict and cattle
rustling, hostage taking to arson attacks, destruction of holy places and
schools, large scale kidnappings in remote areas and civil unrest around
protests and strikes.”
Ghanea said impunity and lack of accountability have
entrenched cycles of violence, especially in rural communities where victims
often experience repeated attacks without justice.
The UN rapporteur noted that some affected communities
reported being compelled to enter so-called “peace deals” with bandits,
including surrendering farmland and other resources.
She added that repeated attacks on schools and the abduction
of children continue to violate the rights of many Nigerian children.
“What remains uncontested is that, at the village and hamlet
levels in particular concentrations of the country, scores of innocent people
experience killings, mass violence and the total decimation of their
livelihoods, time and again, witnessing little or no justice,” she added.
RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES BEING POLITICISED’
Ghanea said many Nigerians continue to view the country
through the religious divide of a predominantly Muslim north and Christian
south, warning that such narratives oversimplify the country’s diversity.
She noted that the continued inclusion of religion in some
administrative forms reinforces faith as a dominant organising principle in
society and creates opportunities for political manipulation.
“The existence of the religion field in such forms
reinforces religion as a predominant organising principle of Nigerian society
which, in turn, makes it highly susceptible to religion being ‘played’ for
power, politics and wealth,” she said.
The UN expert also expressed concern over reports of
discrimination against religious minorities and non-religious persons.
She said security concerns have overshadowed discussions on marginalisation and discrimination based on religion or belief.
According to her, numerous stakeholders alleged “systematic
discrimination faced by Christians throughout the north” and “a narrower
bandwidth of rights for Muslims in the south”.
Ghanea said there is a need to end religious profiling and
promote equality for all Nigerians regardless of faith.
BLASPHEMY LAWS
The special rapporteur also raised concerns over legal
frameworks in some northern states, particularly criminal provisions relating
to blasphemy.
She said such laws could conflict with constitutional
guarantees on freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Ghanea noted that some state authorities defended the laws
on cultural and moral grounds, while others argued they contradicted Section 10
of the constitution, which prohibits the adoption of a state religion.
She referenced the April 2025 ruling of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice on Kano’s blasphemy
laws, noting that some state officials questioned the binding nature of the
judgment.
The envoy said her full report, including recommendations,
will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.
She commended the resilience of Nigerian civil society,
victims and young people, noting that the country possesses the expertise and
human capital needed to guarantee freedom of religion or belief for all.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria has the expertise, experts
and committed, inspirational youth to secure freedom of thought, conscience and
religion for all on an equal basis,” she said.
“There is also no doubt that there is a long way to go until
that is fully realised.”
Ghanea’s visit comes months after US President Donald Trump
redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over
allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in parts of the country.
According to Trump, Christianity is facing an “existential
threat” in Nigeria and accused radical Islamist groups of carrying out mass
killings.
He said the US could not ignore the “atrocities” against
Christians, adding that Congress would be briefed to consider further action
under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The designation places Nigeria under heightened US scrutiny
for alleged violations of religious freedom, potentially opening the door to
sanctions or policy measures.
However, the federal government rejected the claim,
insisting that Nigerians of all faiths live peacefully and that insecurity in
the country is driven by terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities
rather than religious persecution.
In recent months, insecurity has worsened across parts of
the country, with terrorists attacking schools, abducting and killing teachers,
pupils and other civilians.
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