The Northern Elders Forum and the Coalition of Northern Groups have condemned push by the United States lawmakers and rights groups to stop Sharia law in parts of the region Nigeria.
While describing such a move as “a direct assault on Islam,” they insisted that the northern states will not yield to pressure from the United States Government or President Donald Trump.”
The Law among others covers personal conduct like marriage, inheritance, and moral behaviour, Sharia has been expanded to cover criminal justice, and in some cases, serving as the penal code for northern states.
Speaking on the move by the US lawmakers, NEF spokesperson, Prof Abubakar Jiddere, described the threatened sanctions as “empty threats”, saying Trump’s allegations of mass killing of Christians in Nigeria was “arrogance”.
Prof. Jiddere said “The Northern Elders Forum has frowned, seriously frowned at this threat, which to me, as far as I’m concerned, is an empty threat. Because even in the U.S., it has not gone through the normal process. It’s just Trump’s personal arrogance that he made this statement.
He dispelled the allegation of genocide in the north, as far as the Forum was concerned, nothing that “both Christians and Muslims are facing the same challenge.”
Jiddere accused the American government of habouring a hidden agenda, saying Nigeria’s renewed business dealings with the Chinese made the U.S. “uncomfortable”, prompting the use of force.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said the threat of sanctions would only to lead to more anti-Western sentiments and deepen distrust against the Nigerian government.
According to the Coalition, Shariah was not just a law but an identity for the majority of the Northern states, adding that any northern governor who attempted to suspend or weaken Sharia law to avoid U.S. sanctions would face intense backlash from religious scholars and the public, who view the laws as divine and non-negotiable.
As of 2025, 12 northern states have officially implemented Sharia law to varying degrees. They are Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa and Borno. Others are Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe, while Kaduna and Niger have only partially enforced the laws.
Prof. Jiddere said “for the majority of these states, Sharia is not just law, but an identity–deeply tied to faith, culture, and local legitimacy. Any northern governor who attempts to halt or weaken Sharia enforcement would face intense backlash from religious scholars, traditional institutions, and the general public, who see Sharia as divine, not negotiable.”
Former Governor Ahmed Sani of Zamfara adopted the Sharia Law, otherwise referred to as Islamic Law, a legal system derived from the Qur’an, the Hadith (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad), and Islamic jurisprudence.
Following Donald Trump’s public threats, several U.S. lawmakers and rights groups began calls for tougher action, including elimination of Sharia law in parts of northern Nigeria.
For example, U.S. lawmaker Ted Cruz, in September, introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”, arguing that Nigerian officials who enforce or support Sharia and blasphemy laws should face sanctions and that Nigeria must be treated as a “country of particular concern.”
Beyond Congress, U.S.-based human‑rights organisations such as Alliance Defending Freedom and Advancing American Freedom filed petitions urging the U.S. State Department to designate Nigeria for severe religious‑freedom abuses, citing reports that “12 state governments enforce Sharia law, including blasphemy laws” in the country. Other groups also called for sanctions on Nigerian government officials and governors of the 12 northern states.
Following Donald Trump’s public threats, several U.S. lawmakers and rights groups began calls for tougher action, including elimination of Sharia law in parts of northern Nigeria.
For example, U.S. lawmaker Ted Cruz, in September, introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”, arguing that Nigerian officials who enforce or support Sharia and blasphemy laws should face sanctions and that Nigeria must be treated as a “country of particular concern.”
Beyond Congress, U.S.-based human‑rights organisations such as Alliance Defending Freedom and Advancing American Freedom filed petitions urging the U.S. State Department to designate Nigeria for severe religious‑freedom abuses, citing reports that “12 state governments enforce Sharia law, including blasphemy laws” in the country. Other groups also called for sanctions on Nigerian government officials and governors of the 12 northern states.
