Nigerian Muslims also victims – Vatican Cardinal speaks on alleged Christian genocide
Story by Mercy Adaje
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has cautioned against portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a genocide solely targeting Christians, stressing that Muslims are also victims of the country’s worsening violence.
Speaking in Rome during the presentation of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) report on global religious freedom, Parolin said much of the unrest stems from socio-economic and communal issues, not religion.
“It is not a religious conflict. Much of the violence stems from social causes such as land disputes between herders and farmers in the North-Central region,” he said. “Many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance. Extremist groups make no distinctions in pursuing their goals — they attack anyone they perceive as an opponent.”
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His remarks come amid renewed Western claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria following Vice President Kashim Shettima’s address at the United Nations General Assembly, which reignited global debate over religious persecution.
Earlier, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto also urged the international community not to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution, warning that such a move could derail peacebuilding and interfaith dialogue efforts.
At the Vatican event launching ACN’s 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom, Kukah acknowledged Nigeria’s deep-seated insecurity but maintained that the crisis cannot be simplistically defined as Christian persecution.
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“We are not dealing with people killing me because I am a Christian. I live and work in Sokoto, right in the womb of Islam, where collaboration remains possible. Our lives should be defined by a better narrative,” he said.
However, the bishop admitted that state failure has created conditions for what could be termed “genocide” in some communities, citing the inability of governments to protect citizens.
“Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country — not only because of their religion but also their ethnicity. We are on the brink of a weak state unable to stop the slide into anarchy,” Kukah warned.
He criticised former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for deepening religious divisions but commended President Bola Tinubu for promoting inclusiveness through balanced appointments across faith lines.
Citing the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, Kukah noted a 37 percent drop in terrorist attacks in 2024 but urged stronger constitutional enforcement, especially regarding Sharia law in northern states.
“The President should approach the courts to have the adoption of Sharia law declared unconstitutional. The secular nature of the Nigerian state must be upheld,” he added.
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