THE United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has expressed concern over worsening insecurity, growing religious polarisation and persistent impunity in Nigeria, warning that the challenges are undermining fundamental human rights across the country.
Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the NHRC in Abuja on Friday, Ghanea presented preliminary findings from visits to Jos, Plateau State and Kano State, during which her team met with more than 200 stakeholders, including government officials, religious leaders, civil society groups, lawyers and victims of violence.
She said the mission was aimed at assessing the state of freedom of thought, conscience and religion in Nigeria and examining how those rights intersect with broader human rights concerns.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s rich diversity and constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and belief, Ghanea said discussions throughout the visit were dominated by concerns over insecurity, violence and conflict.
According to her, stakeholders repeatedly cited terrorist attacks, banditry, kidnappings, armed conflict, cattle rustling, land disputes, destruction of places of worship and schools, and mass displacement as major threats confronting communities across the country.
“Scores of innocent people experience killings, mass violence and the total decimation of their livelihoods time and again, and they report witnessing little or no justice,” she said.
The UN expert noted that many affected communities complained of inadequate protection and accountability, warning that impunity has contributed to the persistence and spread of violence beyond areas traditionally associated with insecurity.
She said victims frequently perceive authorities as failing to prevent attacks or ensure justice, leading some to characterise their experiences as persecution or even genocide.
While stressing that legal determinations require judicial processes, Ghanea said the testimonies and experiences of victims should not be ignored.
The rapporteur also expressed concern over what she described as the increasing tendency to view Nigeria through rigid religious divisions.
She said narratives portraying the country as a “Muslim North” and a “Christian South” were overly simplistic and failed to capture Nigeria’s complex realities.
According to her, such narratives can limit the freedom of individuals to define and express their own beliefs.
Ghanea further questioned the continued requirement for citizens to disclose their religious affiliation in several official processes despite constitutional protections.
She noted that job applications, pension documentation, school admissions and recruitment into the police and military reportedly still require applicants to indicate their religion.
She, however, welcomed reports that religion has been removed from applications for Nigerian passports and National Identification Numbers, describing the move as a positive development.
On the causes of violence in Nigeria, the UN official said stakeholders offered divergent perspectives, with some attributing attacks primarily to religious factors while others insisted religion played little or no role.
According to her, both viewpoints reflect the complexity of a crisis driven by a combination of religious, economic, political, environmental and resource-related factors.
Ghanea also raised concerns about the growing reliance on vigilante groups and community self-help security arrangements, warning that the proliferation of armed groups could worsen insecurity rather than reduce it.
While acknowledging government efforts to strengthen security, she said many communities reported that security forces often failed to respond during attacks, leading to declining public confidence.
The rapporteur further highlighted tensions arising from Nigeria’s plural legal systems, particularly regarding blasphemy laws, hate speech provisions and criminal sanctions in some northern states.
She referenced the 2025 ruling on blasphemy laws in Kano State, noting concerns that some authorities questioned the binding nature of the court’s decision.
Despite the challenges identified, Ghanea praised the resilience of victims, activists, civil society organisations and young Nigerians working to promote peace, tolerance and human rights.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria has the expertise, the experts and inspirational youth to secure freedom of thought, conscience and religion for all on an equal basis,” she said.
Ghanea explained that her remarks represented preliminary findings from the visit and that a comprehensive report would be presented in March 2027.
She also thanked the Nigerian government, as well as the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs and the NHRC, for facilitating and supporting the mission.
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