Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said Nigeria’s persistent security challenges are not rooted in religion but in the activities of violent extremists who have exploited faith for political and economic power.
Soyinka made the remarks while reacting to recent statements made by the United States President Donald Trump, who threatened military action against terror groups in Nigeria over the alleged mass killing of Christians.
In late October, Trump said he had ordered the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria over the alleged killing of Christians.
Soyinka, in an interview published by Democracy Day and seen by our correspondent on Monday, warned against framing Nigeria’s crises along religious lines, stressing that the issue lies instead with extremists who distort religion to justify violence and intolerance.
“We must separate the problems which Nigeria has had for decades from President Trump’s recent response,” he said, when asked for his reaction to Trump’s statement.
The literary icon explained that religious differences in Nigeria had long existed but had only escalated when certain individuals with ulterior motives mixed them with politics.
“The Christian-Islam or Islam versus the rest or even Christianity versus the rest—that kind of dichotomy has existed for quite a few decades. It escalated, (and) it can truly (be) horrendous in any aspect since politics got mixed up with religious differences. In other words, when religious differences began to be invoked as a means of political power, and even social and economic power,” Soyinka said.
He lamented a situation where religious extremists kill someone for alleged blasphemy and go scot-free.
He recalled the lynching of a student accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad, noting that her killers went unpunished despite being caught on video bragging about their actions.
In 2022, a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, Deborah Yakubu, was killed by some extremist Muslim students over alleged blasphemy.
The 200-level student was set ablaze on May 12, 2022, after she reportedly advised her classmates against posting religious content on their department’s WhatsApp group, which was created for academic purposes.
In 2023, the police said the prime suspects in the act were at large.
Referring to the incident, Soyinka said, “It is those kinds of incidents which escalate, in popular perception, that there is a brutal war going on between Christians and Muslims.”
Soyinka emphasised that Nigeria’s challenge is not Islam or Christianity, but the extremist groups who commit atrocities in the name of religion.
“Whereas in truth, we are dealing with extremists. We are dealing with political Islamists known sometimes as ISWAP across West Africa or Boko Haram within Nigeria.
“These are the real enemies of society, not Islam as such, not the followers or the Muslims as such, it’s the political Islamists, extremists, the psychopaths,” Soyinka said.
The Nobel laureate also criticised the slow response of Nigeria’s political leaders to the menace of terrorism and religious extremism, saying a lack of decisive leadership has allowed fundamentalism to thrive.
“Then you have frankly, let’s be honest, some very lackadaisical leaders (who are) in the direction of curtailing, just curbing this monstrous fundamentalism,” he stated.
Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, declared that insurgents and bandits recognise neither tribe nor religion, urging Nigerians to unite in combating the menace threatening peace across the country.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the Arewa Media Practitioners Security Summit in Birnin Kebbi, the Sultan said, “Some people talk about Christian genocide in the North, but they forget that these criminals kill Muslims and Christians alike. Bandits know no tribe or religion — they kill everyone.”
The respected monarch warned against politicising insecurity or giving it ethnic colouration, stressing that only collective action can end the scourge.
Declaring the summit open, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, insisted that no part of the state is under the control of bandits or insurgents.
“There is no inch of Kebbi land under bandit occupation,” Idris said. “Our security forces have made it impossible for terrorists to take control of any town, village or local government area in the state. They only strike and retreat into neighbouring states like Zamfara.”
The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his moral and financial support in the fight against insecurity, saying the support has boosted the morale of security personnel nationwide.
In his keynote address, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), identified poverty, weak education, and lack of affordable healthcare as root causes of insecurity in northern Nigeria.
“Our leaders must go beyond summits and begin to implement practical solutions. Unless we tackle the social and economic factors driving insecurity, the problem will persist,” Dambazau said.
He also criticised the recent United States designation of Nigeria as a “country of concern,” describing it as misleading.
“Nigeria is not a country of concern, but of particular interest to the West because the North holds vast untapped mineral deposits they are eyeing,” he added.
The Arewa Media Practitioners Forum convened the summit to stimulate dialogue and chart sustainable strategies for addressing insecurity across northern Nigeria.
Also, an Egba High Chief and entrepreneur, Chief Oluyinka Kufile, on Monday, sought to allay Nigerians’ fears over the Trump’s threat to deploy military force against Nigeria, describing the development as “a storm in a teacup” that would soon fizzle out.
Kufile, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 20th coronation anniversary of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, made the remarks during a press conference at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, where he unveiled activities marking the monarch’s two decades on the throne.
He said,“There is no need for panic. Nigeria and the United States have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship.
“Whatever concerns may have been raised are minor and will soon be resolved. It’s just a storm in the teacup that will clear off shortly.”
Kufile added that Oba Gbadebo’s 20-year reign has been defined by peace, dialogue, and development — values that align with Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with the global community, including the US. He described the monarch as a bridge-builder whose leadership has promoted unity and goodwill beyond Egbaland.
“The Alake of Egbaland has been on the throne for 20 years and he’s still going strong. His success comes from his unwavering commitment to the Egba nation and his people.
“Baba believes in working hard, staying active, and engaging with his people — qualities that have earned him their respect and admiration. That is why Egbaland has decided to roll out the drums and celebrate 20 years of purposeful leadership by our quintessential royal father, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo’,” he noted.
Kufile announced that the week-long anniversary celebration will run from Friday, November 14 to Wednesday, November 19, 2025, featuring thanksgiving services, cultural performances, medical outreach, empowerment initiatives, and a grand civic reception in honour of the monarch.
Oba Gbadebo, a retired army colonel, ascended the throne as the 10th Alake of Egbaland on November 19, 2005 during the administration of former governor Gbenga Daniel.
