Vatican Cardinal Says Nigerian Muslims Also Victims of Violence, Urges Broader View Beyond Religion

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has urged caution in framing Nigeria’s security crisis purely as a religious conflict, saying the violence is driven more by social and economic factors than faith.

Speaking in Rome during the presentation of a report on religious freedom by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Parolin said the recurring attacks, particularly in Nigeria’s north-central region, stem from issues such as disputes between herders and farmers rather than religious hostility. “We should also recognise that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance,” he said. “These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”

At a separate launch of the same ACN report in the UK Parliament, Bishop John Bakeni of the Maiduguri Diocese noted that Nigeria’s violence has multiple root causes, including poverty, climate change, and competition for land. However, he acknowledged that some attacks carry a religious tone, with gunmen targeting churches, priests, and other Christian symbols “with impunity.”

The comments from the Catholic leaders come amid growing international debate over claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. While some Western lawmakers have echoed these concerns, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected such characterisations.

Earlier this month, after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Aqaba Process in Rome, Massad Boulos, senior adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African affairs, also dismissed genocide allegations. Boulos said terrorists in Nigeria are killing more Muslims than Christians and reaffirmed U.S. commitment to working with Nigeria to comprehensively address insecurity.