As violence escalates in Nigeria, Christian and Muslim leaders unite

Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria are forming a coordinating group to create community programs that counter hate speech and religious intolerance. During a meeting in Abuja in August, the leaders signed agreements to cooperate on preventing conflict and promoting social harmony to stop the country's security crisis from increasing religious divisions.

This interfaith cooperation follows a surge in violence, including a mass abduction in August near Dekera village in Niger State. In that incident, an estimated 600 mostly Muslim Nigerians were kidnapped, including people during Friday prayers, and 30 people were killed. The violence caused at least 2,000 residents to flee into neighboring Benin.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria issued a statement expressing solidarity with the Muslim victims in Niger State. The bishops stated that an attack on any place of worship is an attack on collective humanity. These developments occur as abductions in Nigeria rose by 66% over the past year, reaching nearly 7,900 people.