By TruthNigeria Staff
(Jos) In Nigeria, religious freedom is under siege as mob violence, sham trials, and government inaction fuel a cycle of persecution, leaving minorities such as Sadiq Mani Abubakar fearing for their lives.
“The international community, particularly the United States, must reassess its approach to religious freedom in Nigeria,” Rev. Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam, an expert on religious freedom, recently TruthNigeria. The Trump administration could play a pivotal role in pressuring the Nigerian government to address this crisis,” he added.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is grappling with a deepening crisis of religious freedom that is often being swept under the carpet by its leadership. The country’s northern region, predominantly Muslim, has become a hotbed of violence against religious minorities, particularly Christians. The brutal murder of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto in May 2022, the beheading of Bridget Agbaheme in Kano in June 2016, and the killing of evangelist Eunice Olawole in Abuja in July of the same year are stark reminders of the impunity with which religiously motivated violence is met. These incidents, often sparked by accusations of blasphemy, highlight a systemic failure to protect vulnerable communities.
Sadiq Abubakar’s Narrow Escape: A Microcosm of Nigeria’s Crisis
Sadiq Mani Abubakar, a 45-year-old Hausa Christian and father of 3, narrowly escaped death on January 30, 2024 when a Muslim mob attacked his home in Katsina state. Accused of blasphemy for a decade-old Facebook post, Abubakar’s house and vehicles were burned, and his family forced into hiding. In an exclusive interview with TruthNigeria, Abubakar revealed the chilling details of his ordeal.
“I have been abandoned by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). I cannot seek legal redress for fear of my family back in Katsina being attacked or persecuted,” he said. Abubakar’s case underscores the peril faced by religious minorities in northern Nigeria, where mobs often act as judge, jury, and executioner.
Abubakar, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsenma, had his salary stopped by his employer, the federal government, after his escape from Katsina in January 2024.
“My salary was stopped by the federal government after I fled Katsina for my life, I don’t know why the government acted with such alacrity because I have seen people who stopped coming to work for a long time, but their salaries kept coming in,” Abubakar told TruthNigeria.
The Human Toll: Families Torn Apart
For individuals such as Sadiq Abubakar, the consequences of religious persecution extend far beyond physical violence. Abubakar’s wife, a civil servant, has faced relentless persecution at work, including unpaid salaries during her maternity leave and a forced transfer to a bandit-infested area. Such systemic discrimination not only undermines the livelihoods of religious minorities but also perpetuates a culture of fear and silence.
“My wife has also suffered similar persecution,” Abubakar told TruthNigeria. “When I fled Katsina, my wife was pregnant for our last child, she put to bed in March 2024 and was home for 3 months. The state government stopped her salary for those months and when it eventually restored payment, she was transferred to Kankia, a place under the control of bandits.” Abubakar said.
The Blasphemy Law: A Tool of Oppression
Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, particularly in northern states governed by Islamic Legal Code (Sharia,) have become a weapon of oppression. These laws are often exploited to target religious minorities, stifle dissent, and justify mob violence. The case of Mubarak Bala, a humanist sentenced to 24 years in prison in 2022 for allegedly blaspheming Islam, exemplifies the misuse of these laws. Bala’s trial, widely criticized as a sham, highlights the lack of due process and the complicity of state authorities in perpetuating religious persecution.
Mubarak Bala, a much publicized atheist, was released from prison on Jan. 7, 2025, having served more than four years for blasphemy. He had been convicted in 2022 for a controversial Facebook post he made in 2020.
While the Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom both freedom of religion and expression, the criminal and shariah codes pose significant risk to religious freedom as have been witnessed in recent years.
Millions Spent, Little Progress
The United States has allocated significant resources to promote religious freedom globally, including in Nigeria. However, the impact of these efforts remains questionable. While funding has supported advocacy and awareness campaigns, the root causes of religious violence—impunity, weak governance, and systemic inequality—remain unaddressed. Critics argue that without holding perpetrators accountable and pressuring the Nigerian government to enforce the rule of law, these initiatives risk becoming mere lip service.
Expert’s Opinions
“Blasphemy has become a vindictive weapon in the hands of those who exploit religion, particularly within Islam. This troubling trend is fueled by weak governance institutions, systemic compromises, and, in some cases, outright complicity,” according to Para-Mallam, the president and CEO of The Para-Mallam Peace Foundation.
“The judiciary, through unintended neglect, has allowed mob killers to escape justice under the guise of blasphemy, using religion as a veneer to justify their actions,” he went on to say.
“Nigeria stands as a nation of contradictions,” Para-Mallam said. “While it is not the most Islamic country in the region, it has become a hotspot for blasphemy-related violence. Compare this to other predominantly Muslim nations in West Africa, such as Senegal, Gambia, Mali, and Niger, or North African countries like Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, and Libya. These nations, despite their Islamic identity, rarely witness the kind of blasphemy killings that have become alarmingly common in Nigeria. This stark contrast raises serious questions about the rule of law and societal order in Nigeria,” Para-Mallam said.
A Plea for Justice: What Lies Ahead?
The international community, particularly the U.S., must reassess its approach to religious freedom in Nigeria. The Trump administration, known for its hardline stance on freedom of religion and belief (FoRb), could play a pivotal role in pressuring the Nigerian government to address this crisis. Concrete steps, such as reinstating Nigeria’s designation of Country of Particular Concern (CPC), imposing targeted sanctions on perpetrators, and increasing support for grassroots advocacy, are urgently needed, freedom activists tell TruthNigeria.
