The Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take steps to ease rising religious tensions, following a public exchange between the group and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs over comments on insecurity and religious profiling.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Bosun Emmanuel, the CSMN criticised the NSCIA’s recent response to remarks made by former Christian Association of Nigeria President Ayo Oritsejafor regarding insecurity in Nigeria.
The group alleged that the NSCIA had misrepresented Oritsejafor’s comments and called on the Islamic body to exercise restraint in its public statements. According to the CSMN, the cleric was expressing concern over insecurity and the suffering experienced by many communities, rather than making a blanket condemnation of Muslims.
CSMN further urged President Tinubu to promote dialogue and ensure that religious differences do not deepen existing national divisions. The organisation said all stakeholders should work toward preserving peace, national unity, and mutual respect among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
The statement also expressed concern over the activities of extremist groups responsible for violent attacks across parts of the country, while calling for stronger action against terrorism and violent extremism.
The NSCIA had earlier criticised remarks attributed to Oritsejafor, arguing that they unfairly profiled Muslims and could heighten religious tensions. The council urged public figures to avoid statements that could be interpreted as generalising criminality or insecurity to an entire faith community.
Nigeria has for years faced security challenges involving multiple armed groups, including jihadist insurgents, armed bandits, separatist groups, and criminal kidnapping networks operating in different regions of the country. Security analysts and government officials have repeatedly cautioned against attributing the actions of violent actors to entire religious or ethnic communities, warning that such generalisations risk inflaming tensions and undermining national cohesion.
The latest exchange underscores the sensitivity of discussions surrounding religion and insecurity in Nigeria, with observers continuing to call on political, religious, and community leaders to promote responsible public discourse while supporting efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
