UN raises concerns over attacks on religious minorities in Nigeria, citing reports of killings, abductions and forced conversions

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) has expressed concern over credible reports of killings, abductions, sexual violence and forced conversions targeting Christian and other religious minority communities in Nigeria, particularly in the northern and Middle Belt regions.

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In a statement released on Monday, the UN human rights office said worsening insecurity in parts of Nigeria has created conditions that allow armed groups and other actors to operate with devastating consequences for civilians.

The organisation described the reports it has received as deeply troubling, warning that persistent insecurity, allegations of impunity and inadequate protection mechanisms continue to expose vulnerable communities to serious risks.

According to the office, testimonies gathered from affected individuals and communities portray a disturbing picture of fear, trauma, coercion and abandonment.

The UN body stressed that victims and survivors must be protected and supported through access to justice, accountability mechanisms and appropriate reparations.

The office said violence affecting religious minority communities continues in several areas, including killings, attacks on places of worship, forced displacement and incidents of mob violence linked to blasphemy allegations.

Particular concern was expressed over the situation of women and girls, whom the organisation said face heightened risks of abduction, sexual violence, forced marriage and forced religious conversion.

The human rights office stated that reports indicate some victims who resist such acts are allegedly threatened, punished, disappeared or killed.

Among incidents highlighted by the organisation were reports involving the abduction and sexual assault of women, the disappearance of girls abducted from a church in Borno State, allegations of forced conversion and child marriage in Bauchi State, and an attack on a 16-year-old girl whose hand was reportedly severed after her family rejected a forced marriage proposal.

The office said the reported incidents appear to reflect a broader pattern of violence affecting communities in parts of northern Nigeria, including attacks on villages, insecurity within displacement camps and recurring communal conflicts.

The organisation also warned that displaced women and girls remain especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation and coercion. According to the statement, some victims have reportedly been compelled to exchange sexual acts for food, shelter or other necessities, while others allegedly conceal their religious identity as a survival strategy.

The UN office noted that if confirmed, the allegations could amount to serious violations of international human rights law, including breaches of the rights to life, liberty, security, freedom of religion or belief, protection from torture, freedom from slavery and trafficking, and protections afforded to women and children.

The organisation called on Nigerian authorities to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable populations, secure the release of abducted individuals, conduct independent investigations and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

It further warned that failure to address such allegations could encourage further violence and deepen insecurity in affected communities.

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The statement concluded with a call for accountability, stressing that impunity for serious crimes remains a significant obstacle to lasting peace and protection for vulnerable groups.