By Bashar Maianguwa0
The Arewa Peace Foundation calls on the international community particularly the Government of the United States and its allies to adopt a fair, evidence-based approach when addressing the complex realities of religious violence and insecurity in Nigeria.
Over the past decade, Nigeria has endured unprecedented humanitarian and security crises. Terrorism, armed banditry, and sectarian tensions have claimed tens of thousands of lives across faiths and regions. However, public debate both within and outside Nigeria often misrepresents this tragedy through a narrow, one-sided narrative that unfairly portrays Muslims as aggressors and Christians as the only victims.
A Record Often Ignored
Independent research and on-ground data consistently reveal that a significant majority of victims of Boko Haram, IS-affiliated groups, and criminal bandits in northern Nigeria are themselves Muslims. Entire Muslim communities in Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kaduna States have been devastated.
Prominent Muslim clerics such as Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam (Kano, 2007), Sheikh Muhammad Auwal Albani Zaria (2014), Sheikh Umaru Hamza Dan-Maishiyya (Sokoto, 2007) and many other prominents Islamic Scholars were assassinated for preaching against extremist ideologies. Their deaths, and the countless civilian casualties that followed, are stark reminders that terrorism in Nigeria targets Muslims and Christians alike.
Yet, global discourse rarely acknowledges these losses. When Christian victims are attacked, headlines appear instantly. When Muslim villages are burned or clerics are murdered, international silence prevails. This imbalance fuels distrust and undermines collective peacebuilding.
A Call for Consistency
The Arewa Peace Foundation urges the U.S. Department of State, European Union, and United Nations agencies to apply the same standards of human-rights advocacy to all victims of violence regardless of faith. Selective condemnation breeds resentment and weakens international credibility.
We further note the inconsistency in some Western policy circles that criticise domestic security operations in Nigeria while providing limited accountability for the global flow of arms and funding that sustain extremist networks. Constructive engagement should be grounded in data, not ideology.
On Sovereignty and Partnership
Nigeria remains a sovereign democracy. We welcome collaboration based on respect, mutual interest, and transparency but reject any external attempt to politicise religion or undermine our constitutional institutions. Genuine partners must focus on supporting education, counter-radicalisation, and community resilience programmes that benefit all Nigerians.
Appeal to Nigerian Leaders and Civil Society
We call on faith-based organisations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), to reject inflammatory rhetoric and work jointly toward credible peace initiatives. Nigeria’s strength lies in coexistence, not confrontation.
Conclusion
Violence in Nigeria is not a contest of faiths; it is a collective tragedy demanding unified, rational response. The world must resist the temptation to simplify our pain for political convenience. True friendship from abroad will be measured by fairness, empathy, and the courage to tell the whole truth.
Signed:
Bashar Maianguwa
Founder & President
Arewa Peace Foundation (APF)
Abuja, Nigeria
arewapeacefoundation@gmail.com
+234(0)8069199190
