The Vatican has cautioned against labeling Nigeria’s security challenges as a genocide solely targeting Christians, emphasizing that Muslims have also suffered greatly from violence across the country.
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, made the clarification in Rome during the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom. He said much of the violence in Nigeria stems from social and economic tensions rather than religion.
According to him, “It is not a religious conflict.” He explained that extremist groups in Nigeria attack indiscriminately, targeting anyone they perceive as an obstacle to their objectives. Parolin noted that land disputes between herders and farmers in the North-Central region remain one of the root causes of persistent clashes.
His remarks come amid renewed global attention on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, which followed Vice President Kashim Shettima’s address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
In that address, Shettima condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza and called for a two-state solution to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East.
Following his comments, Western commentators—including private security firm founder Eric Prince—revived claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and called for global intervention to defend Christian communities.
However, both Parolin and other Catholic leaders have urged a more balanced perspective. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, also advised the international community not to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over religious persecution.
Speaking at the same event in Vatican City, Bishop Kukah argued that such a designation could harm ongoing peacebuilding and interfaith initiatives. He acknowledged Nigeria’s serious security and governance failures but stressed that the crisis affects citizens across religious lines.
Kukah stated that the country’s insecurity has led to what he described as “genocidal conditions” in some regions, caused largely by the government’s inability to protect lives and property.
He noted that Nigerians are being killed for reasons ranging from religion to ethnicity, describing the nation as being on the brink of state collapse.
Reflecting on recent political developments, the bishop criticized the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari for deepening religious divisions, calling it the most polarizing period in Nigeria’s interfaith history. By contrast, he commended President Bola Tinubu’s government for fostering inclusivity through balanced appointments that reflect both Christian and Muslim representation.
“The President and Vice President are Muslims, yet Christians have not felt excluded,” Kukah said, citing key Christian figures in strategic positions such as the Chief of Defence Staff, the Director of the DSS, and the INEC Chairman.
He also referenced the Global Terrorism Index Report 2025, which showed a 37 percent drop in terrorist attacks in 2024 but warned that violence motivated by religious identity remains a pressing concern, especially in northern Nigeria.
Kukah further urged the government to ensure constitutional compliance nationwide, particularly regarding the enforcement of Sharia law in 12 northern states. He argued that the practice contradicts Nigeria’s secular constitution and fuels discrimination and mob justice.
The Aid to the Church in Need report highlights a global decline in religious freedom, with more than 5.4 billion people living under regimes that restrict worship. It identifies religious extremism, authoritarianism, and ethnic nationalism as key factors driving persecution worldwide.
Both the Vatican and Nigerian Church leaders have, therefore, called for a collective response focused on justice, inclusivity, and security—rather than divisive narratives that risk deepening mistrust among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
