Omanghana
A United Nations expert has warned that persistent insecurity and a lack of accountability for violent attacks in Nigeria are fueling widespread perceptions among affected communities that they are victims of persecution or even genocide.
The assessment was made by UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Nazila Ghanea following a fact-finding mission to the country. While the envoy said there is no evidence that the Nigerian government is pursuing a deliberate policy to eliminate a particular religious group, she stressed that repeated failures to prevent violence or bring perpetrators to justice have severely undermined public confidence.
Communities Feel Abandoned Amid Continued Violence
During a two-week visit that included Abuja, Kano, and Jos, the UN delegation met with survivors, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and government officials to assess the state of religious freedom and security.
According to the findings, many victims perceive the ongoing attacks as targeted campaigns against their communities because of the recurring pattern of killings, destruction of places of worship, and limited accountability for those responsible.
The report notes that when religious leaders are murdered, worship centers are destroyed, and investigations fail to produce visible results, affected populations can understandably view the violence as systematic persecution.
Thousands Displaced as Cycles of Violence Continue
The UN mission documented the devastating humanitarian impact of repeated attacks across several regions of Nigeria, with communities trapped in prolonged cycles of displacement, trauma, and insecurity.
Entire villages have reportedly been destroyed during outbreaks of violence, leaving survivors with few prospects for justice or safe return. The report emphasizes that these recurring incidents have significantly affected the exercise of fundamental rights, including freedom of religion, conscience, and belief.
Complex Security Challenges Across Nigeria
Nigeria continues to face multiple overlapping security crises that vary by region and involve different armed actors.
In the country’s Middle Belt, long-running conflicts between predominantly farming communities and nomadic herders have intensified over the years, often taking on religious and ethnic dimensions alongside disputes over land and resources.
Meanwhile, northern Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgencies linked to extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as heavily armed criminal gangs engaged in kidnappings, banditry, and attacks on rural communities.
The combination of these conflicts has created one of the most complex security environments on the African continent.
Advocacy Groups Raise Alarm Over Casualties
Human rights organizations and advocacy groups have continued to express concern about the scale of violence affecting civilians.
Some independent monitors have reported hundreds of killings and abductions targeting Christian communities during the early months of 2026, prompting renewed international calls for investigations into whether patterns of violence warrant further scrutiny under international law.
The UN report does not conclude that genocide is taking place but highlights the importance of addressing the fears and experiences of affected communities while strengthening accountability mechanisms.
Nigerian Government Rejects Claims of Religious Bias
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has consistently rejected allegations that the government is complicit in or indifferent to religiously motivated violence.
Officials argue that many of the country’s security challenges are rooted in complex factors, including criminal activity, economic hardship, environmental pressures such as desertification, and competition over land and resources, rather than organized religious persecution.
The government has also highlighted ongoing counterterrorism operations, stating that thousands of suspected militants have been neutralized over the past year as part of efforts to restore security.
UN Calls for Greater Accountability
Despite ongoing military operations, the UN Special Rapporteur emphasized that lasting peace will require more than security measures alone. The report underscores the need for stronger institutions, effective investigations, and accountability for perpetrators to break the cycle of impunity that continues to fuel violence.
The findings add to growing international attention on Nigeria’s security situation and reinforce calls for comprehensive strategies that address both immediate threats and the underlying drivers of conflict while protecting the rights and freedoms of all communities.
Source: Omanghana
