Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has entered the debate surrounding alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria, urging a more nuanced understanding of the country’s security crisis.
The discussion gained international attention after Vice President Kashim Shettima addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
Shettima described the situation in Gaza as “heart-wrenching” and called for an immediate ceasefire that would lead to Palestinians having “independence and a home of their own on territories already recognised by the UN and international law.”
He stressed that a two-state solution remains the most viable path to peace, warning that neglect of international law only “fuels propaganda and undermines global stability.”
Following Shettima’s remarks, some Western voices amplified the narrative of Christian persecution.
Eric Prince, founder of a U.S.-based private security company, urged the Vatican, the Pope, former President Donald Trump, and prominent Christian leaders worldwide to “fund and support” a private Christian army to “protect the Christian community in Nigeria.”
Speaking in Rome during the presentation of a new report on global religious freedom by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Parolin cautioned against framing Nigeria’s security challenges as a genocide targeting Christians.
He highlighted that Nigerian Muslims are also victims of escalating violence.
“It is not a religious conflict. Much of the violence stems from social causes such as land disputes between herders and farmers in the North-Central region,” Parolin said.
“We should also recognise that many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance. These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”
Earlier, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, had urged the international community not to reclassify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
Speaking at the ACN 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom launch in Vatican City’s Augustinianum Hall, he warned that such a move could undermine efforts to foster peace and interfaith dialogue.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s deep-seated challenges, Bishop Kukah insisted that the nation should be supported rather than punished as it seeks to overcome religious violence and national disunity.
“We are not dealing with people going around wielding machetes to kill me because I am a Christian. I live and work in Sokoto, right in the womb of Islam, where collaboration between Christians and Muslims remains possible. Our lives should be defined by a better narrative,” Kukah said.
He also admitted that Nigeria’s security breakdown has created conditions for what he described as “genocide” in some communities, citing the federal and state governments’ failure to contain violence and protect citizens.
“Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country — not only because of their religion but also their ethnicity. We are in the cusp of a weak state with a clear lack of capacity to arrest the descent into anarchy,” he said.
Bishop Kukah described the eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari as “the worst phase in interfaith relations,” accusing the administration of policies that alienated Christians and emboldened jihadists.
“Under Buhari, to gain power, it was more important to be a northern Muslim than to be a citizen of Nigeria,” he added.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated inclusiveness through appointments that balance religious representation.
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“The President and Vice President are Muslims, yet Christians have not felt alienated. The Chief of Defence Staff, the Director of DSS, and the INEC Chairman are Christians. These are confidence-building measures aimed at restoring trust among Nigerians,” Kukah said.
Citing the Global Terrorism Index Report 2025, Kukah acknowledged a 37 percent decline in terrorist attacks in 2024 but warned that religious identity still plays a decisive role in violence, particularly against Christians in northern Nigeria.
He also urged the government to enforce full constitutional compliance in all states, especially concerning the application of Sharia law in 12 northern states, which he said fuels mob justice and discrimination.
“The President should go to court to have the adoption of Sharia law declared unconstitutional. The secular state anticipated by the Constitution must be enforced,” he said.
The ACN report highlights a global decline in religious freedom, noting that over 5.4 billion people live in countries where such rights are restricted.
It identifies authoritarianism, religious extremism, ethno-religious nationalism, and organized crime as key drivers of persecution worldwide.
