The UN Has Stated That the Perception of Genocide in Nigeria is Being Disseminated by The Spread of Violence and Impunity

The UN’s foremost expert on the subject stated on Friday that the spread of violence and impunity for armed groups is eroding religious freedom in Nigeria. He also acknowledged that some victims may perceive this as genocide or persecution.

The United Nations special rapporteur on religious freedom, Nazila Ghanea, made the comments in response to US President Donald Trump’s condemnation of what he termed a Christian “genocide” in Nigeria last year.

Nigeria, which is divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a Christian-majority south, is currently grappling with a variety of security crises. These crises include a protracted jihadist insurgency and so-called “bandit” groups in the north, as well as farmer-herder conflicts in the religiously diverse center. The religious right in the United States and Europe has made accusations that the persecution of Christians is the cause of violence in the most populous country in Africa.

Ghanea stated that she and her team conducted interviews with over 200 individuals during a two-week visit to the capital, Abuja, the northern economic center of Kano, and Jos, a religiously mixed city in Plateau state. Almost every interlocutor responded by discussing religious crisis and insecurity, and they prioritized this issue, Ghanea informed AFP.

Also Read:

Jeffrey Beri: The Man Behind No Dogs Left Behind’s Life-Saving Mission

After A Deadly Attack, A UN Force Guards A Camp For Refugees In South Sudan – The Africa Times