The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Nigeria.
In a report released over the weekend, the commission criticised the Federal Government for its continued enforcement of blasphemy laws and its tolerance of violence perpetrated by extremist groups against religious communities.
The 2024 Annual Report from USCIRF highlighted ongoing systematic restrictions on freedom of religion or belief across Nigeria.
The report pointed out that several states were using blasphemy laws to prosecute members of various faith-based groups, including Christians, Muslims, and secular humanists.
The commission emphasised that these actions have led to widespread violations of religious freedoms.
“The government also continues to tolerate egregious violence against religious groups by non-state actors, such as the Islamic State-West Africa Province, JAS/Boko Haram, and other extremist groups.
“This violence affects large numbers of Christians and Muslims in several states across Nigeria and targets both religious sites and individuals from religious communities,” the report stated.
In light of these findings, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to its ongoing and severe violations of religious freedom.
This designation could prompt further scrutiny and potential policy actions from the U.S. government.
The commission also expressed concerns over the application of Shari’a law in 12 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, where it is being enforced in both civil and criminal cases.
The report noted that Shari’a courts often impose severe punishments, such as caning, amputation, and stoning, and that the Nigerian government frequently fails to protect individuals accused of blasphemy from violence.
“The Nigerian government continues to imprison individuals accused of blasphemy and often fails to pursue perpetrators of violence related to blasphemy allegations,” it noted.
The report highlighted several high-profile cases, including the imprisonment of humanist Mubarak Bala, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison by a Kano State High Court in 2022 for a Facebook post deemed insulting to Islam.
While his sentence was reduced to five years on appeal in 2024, Bala remains incarcerated.
The report also detailed the ongoing detention of Sufi Muslim Yahava Sharif-Aminu and other individuals accused of blasphemy.
USCIRF stated, “The government arrested Muslim Ismaila Sani lsah on blasphemy charges in 2021 and he remains in prison as well. Sufi cleric Abdulazeez Inyass, arrested in 2015 on blasphemy charges, remains in prison and is facing a death sentence.
“Authorities released Christian Rhoda Jatau from prison on bail in December 2023 but she still faces charges of ‘inciting public disturbance’ and ‘contempt of religious creed’ after her arrest in May 2022.
“Nigeria’s government at both the federal and state levels continue to tolerate attacks by non-state actors who testify their violence on religious grounds. Islamists and some Fulani militant groups have expressed a goal of overthrowing secular governance to enforce a singular interpretation of Islam.”
The report disclosed that approximately 30,000 Fulani bandits operated in several groups in North-west Nigeria, with groups consisting of anywhere from 10 to 1,000 members.
It added, “These groups engage in violence and banditry targeting predominantly Christian communities in Nigeria and generally pose the greatest security threat in North-west Nigeria.
“This activity includes kidnapping, rape, property and cattle theft, illegal possession of weapons, and murder. The specific perpetrators of and motivation behind individual attacks can be difficult to verify.”
Beyond legal persecutions, the USCIRF report underscored the alarming violence committed by extremist groups, including Fulani militants, who have targeted predominantly Christian communities in the northwest, northeast, and central regions of Nigeria.
These attacks, which often involve kidnappings, murder, and the destruction of property, have significantly restricted the freedom of religion or belief in these areas.
The commission’s report also criticized the Nigerian government’s slow response to these attacks and kidnappings, many of which are motivated by ransom demands.
It said, “In several cases, they have kidnapped students from Christian schools or buses taking children to these schools. Gangs generally release hostages unharmed if families meet ransom demands.
“Victims’ families have criticised the government for being slow in responding to and rescuing kidnapping victims. They also criticise the government’s failure to prevent such kidnappings.
“President Tinubu has also promised the government will utilize more “detailed strategies” in response to the kidnappings, without elaborating what those strategies would entail.”
USCIRF, an independent body established by the U.S. Congress, monitors religious freedom around the world and makes policy recommendations to the U.S. government. (Punch)
