In 2021, religious freedom conditions in Nigeria remained poor a both state and nonstate actors continued to commit widespread and egregious religious freedom violations. Despite Nigeria’s constitution protecting religious freedom, Nigerian citizens faced blasphemy charges and convictions, violence, and attacks during religious ceremonies. State authorities in the north of the country, particularly in Kano State, charged and convicted several individuals for blasphemy in 2021.

  • In June 2021, the Department of State Security (DSS) arrested Ahmad Abdul for allegedly insulting Allah in a song he released that was not vetted by the Kano Censorship Board. The chairman of the board had recently announced a new policy that required poets and singers to submit their material to the board for approval.
  • In July, authorities arrested Sheikh Abduljabara Kabara and charged him with blasphemy and incitement, claiming his sermons were “mortifying [to] the companions and the Holy Prophet Muhammad.” The arrest followed a debate organized by the government in which Kabara argued precepts of Islam with state-backed clerics.
  • Also in July, authorities charged prominent humanist leader Mubarak Bala with causing a public disturbance by posting blasphemous content on social media. Authorities had detained Bala without charge for 15 months prior to announcing the official charges.
  • Moreover, a mob in Kano State killed a reverend in retaliation for his alleged involvement in converting a local member of a Muslim family to Christianity.
  • In a positive development, in January the Kano State High Court overturned the blasphemy conviction and death sentence of 16-year-old Omar Farouq, citing irregularities.
  • The same court, citing the same irregularities, ordered that the blasphemy case against Muslim gospel musician Yahaya Sharif-Aminu be retried, but he remains in detention.
  • In July, a court acquitted Ibrahim el-Zakzaky of all charges related to his activities leading the Shi’a Muslim group the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
  • A diverse array of nonstate actors in Nigeria also continued to conduct attacks on houses of worship, religious leaders, and religious congregations in 2021.
  • Activity by criminal and armed groups throughout the year accounted for six attacks on houses of worship, including at least five attacks against mosques in Katsina, Niger, and Zamfara states and six attacks against churches in Kaduna State.
  • In November, churches in Zamfara State received threatening messages from local armed groups demanding that they close or risk ferocious attacks.
  • At least 13 religious leaders were kidnapped for ransom over the course of the year, including eight priests, two pastors, and two imams.
  •  Although government efforts to hold perpetrators accountable appear to have increased compared with previous years, the Nigerian government has often failed to respond sufficiently to violence against religious leaders and congregations.
  • While Boko Haram’s top general, Abubakar Shekau, died this year, militant Islamist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) continued to control territory, conduct attacks based on belief, and enforce their interpretations of religious law and practice in communities under their control.