Vatican Official Says Nigeria’s Insecurity Rooted in Social, Not Religious, Causes

Vatican Official Says Nigeria’s Insecurity Rooted in Social, Not Religious, Causes
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Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has downplayed claims that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is driven by religion, saying the violence largely stems from social and economic factors, The Cable reported.

Speaking in Rome on Tuesday at the presentation of Aid to the Church in Need’s (ACN) annual report on religious freedom, Parolin cited disputes between herders and farmers in Nigeria’s north-central region as examples of the broader social causes behind the unrest.

He said the situation should not be viewed as a religious conflict, noting that many Muslims have also fallen victim to extremist attacks. “These are groups that use violence indiscriminately against anyone they consider an obstacle,” he said.

At a parallel launch of the ACN report in the UK parliament, Bishop John Bakeni of the Maiduguri Diocese acknowledged that while poverty, climate change, and land competition fuel much of the violence, some attacks have clear religious undertones targeting churches, clergy, and Christian symbols.

Their comments follow growing international concern over what some lawmakers have described as a Christian genocide — a claim Nigeria’s government continues to reject. U.S. envoy Massad Boulos also said militants are killing more Muslims than Christians.