Understanding the nature of Islamist Sunni groups in Nigeria

The sphere of African countries has always been the arena of internal and external conflicts, and this trend has been highlighted recently. Turkey, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other West Asian powers are competing for the continent. Ethnic and especially religious components have intensified this trend. In particular, these components have put the political arena of African countries in crisis more than any other region. Nigeria, meanwhile, is prominent in terms of Muslim and Christian populations. The issue of religion and politics has severely shaken Nigeria's domestic arena, and it is exacerbated by foreign support. Given the importance of religion in Nigerian society, this article examines the nature of Islamist Sunni groups in the country, and finally examines the interactions of these groups with Christianity and Shiism and their relationship with Saudi Arabia and some Arab countries.