APPG FOR INTL. FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF NIGERIA INQUIRY
The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief is conducting an inquiry into the ongoing violence between farmers and herders in Nigeria. One of the objectives of the inquiry is to develop a nuanced understanding of the drivers of the conflict and to find possible solutions to the violence.
To support the inquiry in this purpose, the APPG would welcome written submissions which provide evidence-based answers to some, or all, of the below questions:
- What are the principal drivers of the violence?
- What role does religion play? Is there evidence that violence is occurring primarily for religious reasons or that violence is occurring for non-religious reasons but manifesting along religious lines?
- Is there evidence of the existence of organised, coordinated movements on either side which are attacking the other religious group for religious reasons? If so, who is leading them?
- Which villages or territories, if any, have been attacked and settled by the other religious group?
- What evidence is there that attacks by members of organised criminal or terrorist groups have been attributed to groups of either herdsmen or farmers, or that they are arming/supporting herders or farmers to commit attacks?
- Are the victims of the violence disproportionately of a particular religion? If so, why? Is there any evidence that casualties from either group are significantly underreported or over-reported?
- How have poor rural communities financed the acquisition of sophisticated weapons like AK-47s? Are both groups utilising these types of weapons? If not, why?
- What evidence is there of collusion between Government armed forces and either group?
- What actions or initiatives have been taken by the Nigerian Federal or State Governments, or civil society, to prevent further conflict? Have any of these actions been successful? Have any of these actions negatively impacted the violence?
- What tangible, practical steps can be taken in the short and long run by the Nigerian and UK Governments, as well as the wider international community, to prevent further conflict?
- Has the spread of fake news and misinformation impacted the conflict? What tangible, practical steps can be taken to address this issue?
- Do religious communities in Nigeria view the conflict as being primarily religiously motivated? If so, what impact does this perception have on tensions between these communities? What steps can be taken to improve relations between communities?
Evidence from written submissions will not be shared beyond the APPG, unless otherwise authorised. Evidence will be reviewed by APPG members and may be included in the inquiry’s final report. Written submissions should:
- State clearly if you are willing for your written evidence to be used in the report;
- State clearly if you, or your organisation, are willing to be mentioned as a contributor to the report and/or willing to have your name connected to the evidence given;
- Be concise – no more than 4,000 words in length;
- State if you or your organisation interact with both farmers and herding communities.
- Be e-mailed to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by June 10th