A multi-faith coalition of peacebuilders has issued a strong warning against framing Nigeria's widespread killings and escalating insecurity as a religious war, insisting that the real crisis stems from persistent governance failures.
Governance Crisis Behind Insecurity
The coalition emphasized that the pattern of attacks across Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe and other states reflects a deep governance crisis rather than an orchestrated effort to eliminate any religious group. In a statement released by its leadership, including Prof. Awal Abdulsalam as Chairman and Elder Justina Ngwobia as Secretary, the group noted that both Christians and Muslims continue to suffer devastating losses.
The coalition expressed particular concern about how women, children, and the elderly are being targeted in various locations, including markets, homes, places of worship, and highways. They stressed that the rising international commentary and social media narratives have dangerously amplified religious interpretations of the conflict, obscuring the structural issues driving Nigeria's insecurity.
International Response and Local Concerns
The group specifically criticized recent statements by United States President Donald Trump, who on November 1 designated Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" for religious-freedom violations and threatened to withhold U.S. aid or intervene militarily. According to the coalition, these remarks have sparked nationwide anxiety and could inflame an already fragile security environment.
"We reject the polarising labels that have shaped recent public debates," the coalition stated. "Our intention is not to diminish the unimaginable suffering of victims and families, but draw attention to the long-standing governance failures, inadequate security systems, injustice and the erosion of social cohesion."
Call for Homegrown Solutions
The coalition emphasized that while terminology matters in international law, debates over labels must not distract from the immediate need for homegrown solutions that protect all Nigerians. They expressed concern about how narratives of religious persecution, especially when amplified through social media and external commentary, aggravate tensions and overshadow the shared pains experienced by all communities.
"Many respected religious and non-religious actors across the country have consistently noted that while extremist groups have carried out devastating attacks, the deeper issue confronting Nigeria is the weakness of state institutions and their inability to provide fair and effective protection for all citizens," the group explained.
The coalition pointed to their decade-long work in interreligious dialogue, documented in the report Celebrating a Decade of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue in Nigeria (2015–2024), which demonstrates that sustained engagement among diverse groups reduces violence and strengthens community resilience.
They urged Nigerians to resist divisive narratives and instead focus on the governance lapses that allow extremist groups, bandits and other criminal elements to operate with impunity. The coalition called on government at all levels to demonstrate visible leadership, strengthen security coordination, and protect every citizen without discrimination.
Finally, they appealed to faith leaders to intensify interreligious dialogue and counter hate speech with messages of empathy and mutual respect, emphasizing that Nigeria's security challenges require collective responsibility rather than religious polarization.
