Nigerian bishop laments political manipulation of religion
August 22, 2026
A Nigerian bishop said that insecurity, lack of justice, and the political manipulation of religion are greater challenges than religious differences themselves.
Citing joint initiatives by bishops and imams, Bishop Gerald Musa of Katsina told Aid to the Church in Need that Christians and Muslims generally coexist peacefully.
“There are many mixed families,” he said. “They live in peace because family ties are stronger than religious differences.”
“As long as attention was focused on religion, we were not tackling issues such as corruption, impunity, or injustice,” he continued. “Both religions condemn stealing, murder, and adultery. These common principles should help us to build a country in which we are all equal under the law.”
Stating that “there can be no lynching in a civilized society,” the prelate also decried extrajudicial killings:
Nobody can be condemned without having the opportunity to defend themselves. If somebody commits a crime, it is up to the courts to judge them.
The nation of 243 million (map), the most populous in Africa and sixth most populous in the world, is 47% Muslim, 46% Christian (11% Catholic), and 7% ethnic religionist.
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