Across Nigeria, faith provides hope and community for millions, yet it has also become a dangerous fault line for violence and division. The nation's celebrated diversity is overshadowed by a persistent failure to protect religious freedom, leading to recurring tragedies that demand urgent national action. This article examines the critical need for a return to secular governance, the abolition of state-enforced religious laws, and the protection of every citizen's right to worship in peace and live with dignity.
Alarming Violence Against Religious Communities
The targeting of religious groups, particularly Christian communities, has reached a crisis point in Nigeria. A series of brutal incidents illustrate the severe breakdown in security and constitutional protection.
On June 5, 2022, gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during a Sunday service. This assault killed over 40 worshippers and injured dozens more, shocking the nation and the world. The sacred space was transformed into a scene of profound grief and loss for shattered families.
Earlier, on Christmas Day in December 2020, a brutal raid in Gwoza, Borno State, left at least 11 villagers dead, most of them Christians. Attackers linked to extremist groups burned homes and churches, forcing survivors into fear and displacement.
Furthermore, the year 2023 saw a distressing trend of kidnappings targeting clergy and congregants in states like Kaduna and Niger. Dozens were abducted, with ransoms demanded, leaving families in anguish and eroding the very fabric of these communities. These are not mere statistics but profound violations of human dignity and the constitutional right to religious freedom.
The Fundamental Contradiction: Sharia in a Secular State
Nigeria's 1999 Constitution explicitly prohibits state religion in Section 10 and guarantees freedom of thought and religion in Section 38. Despite this, 12 northern states enforce Sharia law, creating a parallel legal system that privileges one faith and directly undermines the nation's secular foundation.
The institutionalization of Sharia through Hisbah police and courts has far-reaching negative consequences. It fosters division and inequality by marginalizing non-Muslims under a two-tiered justice system. It also emboldens extremists who misinterpret state endorsement as a mandate for religious dominance. Most critically, it erodes the constitutional order, creating legal ambiguity and weakening the rule of law for all Nigerians.
The solution is clear and necessary: Sharia must be removed from state governance. This is not an attack on Islam but a defense of Nigeria's secular democracy, ensuring that no single religion dictates public policy or justice.
Governance Failure and the Path Forward
The persistence of this violence highlights a broader failure of governance. Authorities are often slow to respond, investigate, or deliver justice, creating a culture of impunity that emboldens attackers. When faith is politicized and weaponized for power, it deepens mistrust and fractures the nation.
The path to peace requires reaffirming a commitment to secular governance—a state that respects all faiths equally by privileging none. This vision demands decisive action:
- Abolition of state-sponsored Sharia law to align with constitutional principles.
- Strengthening security and justice systems to protect places of worship and prosecute offenders swiftly.
- Promoting interfaith dialogue led by religious leaders to build trust and condemn hate.
- Constitutional enforcement and reform to clarify and strengthen the secular framework.
- Empowering civil society to document abuses and hold authorities accountable.
True faith is a force for compassion, not conflict. Religious leaders have a moral duty to preach peace and unity. Protecting religious freedom is about upholding the rights of every Nigerian. The removal of Sharia law from state governance is a defense of equality and justice for all. A secular state is the only framework that can guarantee genuine freedom, ensure equality before the law, and preserve Nigeria's unity. History will judge the nation by its actions. The time to speak, act, and stand together for peace and constitutional order is now.
