Religion

It is estimated that half of Nigerians are Muslims, 40% are Christians, and the remaining 10% practice various indigenous religions. While Muslims can be found throughout Nigeria, their strongestholds are among the Hausa and Yoruba. Islam in Nigeria is similar to Islam worldwide. It is based on the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as outlined in the Qur'an.

Christianity is most prevalent in Nigeria's south. The vast majority of Igbo and many Yorubas are Christians. The most common Christian denominations in Nigeria are Anglican, Presbyterian, American Southern Baptist, and Methodist. There are also significant numbers of Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Several breakaway African-Christian churches arose as a result of disagreements with the way some missionaries administered the churches during colonial times. The majority of these adhere to Western church doctrines while incorporating African music and tradition into their Masses. Some Christians have even relaxed their restrictions on polygamy.

Relations between Christians and Muslims are tense in many areas. Since late 1999, numerous clashes between the two have led to thousands of deaths. The northern city of Kaduna has been the flash point for many of these riots, as local leaders discussed whether to institute Shari'a law in the region. Demonstrations by Christians against the idea soon led to violent confrontations with Muslims. The debate over Shari'a law and the violence accompanying it continue in many of the northern states.