The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea, has expressed concern over the state of religious freedom in Nigeria, warning that persistent insecurity, violence and impunity continue to threaten the rights and freedoms of citizens across the country.
Speaking in Abuja while presenting preliminary findings at the end of an 11-day official visit to Nigeria, Ghanea said discussions on freedom of religion or belief were overwhelmingly dominated by concerns about insecurity and conflict affecting communities nationwide.
The UN envoy, who visited Nigeria from June 8 to June 19, met with government officials, security agencies, judicial officers, religious leaders, civil society groups, victims of violence and members of the diplomatic community.
According to her, the widespread nature of violence across the country remains a major challenge to the enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms.
“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,” Ghanea said.
She listed terrorism, banditry, gang violence, cattle rustling, kidnappings, land disputes, destruction of places of worship and schools, hostage-taking and civil unrest among the issues affecting communities across the country.
The UN expert noted that a lack of accountability has contributed to recurring cycles of violence, particularly in rural areas where victims often suffer repeated attacks without justice being served.
She also expressed concern over reports that some communities have been compelled to enter peace arrangements with armed groups, including surrendering farmland and other resources in exchange for security.
“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 said.
Ghanea further cautioned against reducing Nigeria’s identity to a simplistic division between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-majority south, arguing that such narratives fail to reflect the country’s religious and cultural diversity.
She also raised concerns about the continued inclusion of religion on official administrative forms, warning that it could reinforce religious divisions and create opportunities for political exploitation.
According to her, some stakeholders alleged discrimination against Christians in parts of northern Nigeria and restrictions faced by Muslims in some southern states. She called for equal rights and protections for all Nigerians, regardless of their faith or beliefs.
The UN envoy additionally questioned whether blasphemy laws in some northern states align with constitutional guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience and religion. She referenced a recent ruling by the ECOWAS Court of Justice on Kano State’s blasphemy laws and noted ongoing debates about its implications.
Despite the challenges identified during her visit, Ghanea commended the resilience of Nigerian civil society organisations, victims of violence and young people working to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
“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.”
Her visit comes amid ongoing debates about religious freedom and security in Nigeria, including recent concerns raised by Donald Trump over the treatment of Christians in parts of the country.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of religious persecution, maintaining that the nation’s security challenges are driven primarily by terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality rather than religious differences.