UN Warns Security Crisis Is Eroding Religious Freedom in Nigeria

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea, has raised alarms over rising insecurity in Nigeria and its impact on citizens’ right to worship freely. During an 11-day visit, she met officials, religious leaders and victims across the country and reported that violence and impunity threaten fundamental freedoms. Ghanea highlighted a range of abuses—from terrorist attacks, banditry and cattle rustling to mass kidnappings, arson of holy sites and forced peace pacts that strip communities of land and resources. She noted that chronic insecurity, especially in rural areas, goes unpunished and allows armed groups to dictate terms without accountability. The rapporteur also warned against reducing Nigeria’s diversity to a simple Muslim-north, Christian-south divide. She pointed out that religious profiling on administrative forms fuels political manipulation and alleged discrimination against minorities. Ghanea questioned the compatibility of some northern blasphemy laws with the Nigerian Constitution and noted challenges to an ECOWAS court ruling against those laws. Despite these challenges, Ghanea praised the resilience of civil society, young activists and victims. She believes Nigeria has the expertise to strengthen freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Her full report and recommendations will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.

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