Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Nigerian Bishop John Bakeni have dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, stressing that the violence stems from social and economic factors affecting both Muslims and Christians.
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has refuted claims that Nigeria’s insecurity is rooted in religion, stating that both Muslims and Christians are victims of the violence.
Speaking in Rome on Tuesday during the presentation of a report on religious freedom by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Parolin said the conflicts are largely social, citing herder-farmer disputes in the north-central region.
“The situation is not a religious conflict,” he 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.”
At the UK launch of the same ACN report, Bishop John Bakeni of Maiduguri Diocese echoed similar sentiments, linking the violence to poverty, climate change, and land competition, while noting some attacks target churches and priests “with impunity.”
Their remarks come amid renewed international concern over alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria, which the federal government denies.
Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome, U.S. official Massad Boulos also maintained that terrorists kill more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria.