Vatican Secretary of State Denies Nigeria's Conflict as Holy War Amid Rising Violence

Cardinal Pietro Parolin of the Vatican emphasized that Nigeria's ongoing conflict is not a holy war but a social crisis with extremist groups causing violence. Religious leaders like Reverend Joseph Hayab and Sultan Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III warn against escalating tensions with careless language.

Professor Khalid Aliyu and Marta Petrosillo highlight the complexity of the situation, urging a nuanced approach to address the root causes of insecurity. Parolin's comments were made in the context of a report on religious freedom, aiming to dispel misconceptions about the conflict in Nigeria.