Faith leaders and human rights advocates have raised concerns over the worsening religious violence in Nigeria, blaming state complicity and failure to maintain neutrality for the crisis.
They warned that perceived government bias toward certain religious groups is creating an environment where attacks on citizens of different faiths are allowed to thrive.
The warnings came during a one-day roundtable organised by the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CAIN) in Abuja. Participants highlighted cases where state actors either directly or indirectly enabled perpetrators of religious violence, worsening insecurity and eroding trust in public institutions.
Faith leaders expressed frustration at the lack of accountability for individuals responsible for religious killings. They stressed that without thorough investigations and prosecutions, such acts of violence will continue unchecked, further undermining freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in the country.
The roundtable also focused on the need for the Nigerian government to take tangible steps to protect religious minorities. Participants called for effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track incidents of religious violence, as well as policies that promote interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and understanding among communities.
Advocates further urged authorities to uphold the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, emphasizing that impartiality in governance is critical to curbing the cycle of religious violence. They argued that state neutrality must be ensured to prevent any group from feeling targeted or unprotected.
In conclusion, the faith leaders and human rights advocates reiterated that the government must act decisively to safeguard all citizens and uphold justice. They stressed that only through transparency, accountability, and genuine commitment to religious neutrality can Nigeria begin to address the scourge of religious killings.