Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, has dismissed claims that Nigeria’s insecurity is rooted in religion, saying the vi%lence is driven mainly by social and economic factors.
Speaking in Rome during the presentation of a report on religious freedom by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Parolin cited farmer-herder clashes in north-central Nigeria as an example of non-religious causes of c%nflict.
“Many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance,” he said. “These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use vi%lence against anyone they see as an opponent.”
At a parallel launch of the ACN report in the UK parliament, John Bakeni, Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, agreed that the causes of vi%lence are complex pointing to p%verty, climate change, and land competition but noted that some att+cks clearly carry a religious tone, targeting churches, priests, and Christian symbols “with impunity.”
Their remarks come amid rising global concern and claims of a Christian g+nocide in Nigeria an allegation the federal government continues to reject.
Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome, Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to former US President Donald Trump, also dismissed the g+nocide narrative, stressing that t£rrorists are k+lling more Muslims than Christians. He said the US would continue to support Nigeria in tackling insecurity.
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