As you continue reading this article, you will encounter a rough population of Muslims in Nigeria. But before we go on, we would like to see how this religion came to the land.
Islam is one of the principal religions in Nigeria and is commonly practiced in the northern part of the country.
Nigerian Muslim Population
The Muslims in Nigeria is made up of the “Sunnis of the Maliki” who have a large population in the country. But a significant number of Shiites are found in states such as Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Illorin,, and Osun.
Having a well-known religion like Islam, it will be important if we take a look at how many worshipers are present in the country.
For that reason, we decided to prepare this article.
How Islam Arrived in Nigeria?
The Islamic religion made its way to Nigeria through two geographical routes during the 11th century.
The first is via North Africa and the second via the Senegalese basin. As at the time he was brought to Nigeria, other countries in West Africa also accepted the religion.
The movement of this religion was possible following trade between these intermediary countries. During the 12th century, Islam intensified and spread to several regions of northern Nigeria.
Practically all the leaders of these areas embraced the Islamic religion and became full-time worshipers.
There are about 12 states in Nigeria that are predominantly Muslim. Among these states are Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Adamawa and Gombe.
In addition to these states, there are other areas where there is a minority of Muslims.
How Many Muslims Are in Nigeria?
According to a CIA survey, there are approximately 53.5 percent Muslims and approximately 45.9 percent Christians in Nigeria.
The remaining percentage goes to traditional worshippers and those who do not have a religion in the country.
These data were obtained using the World Factbook in 2019.
However, Islam is divided into various sub-divisions. Among these divisions are the Shiites, Sufis, Ahmadiyya, Quraniyoon, Boko Haram, and Darul Islam.
From these divisions, we may have a versed knowledge regarding their population in the land.
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Number of Shi’ites in Nigeria
Around the 1980s, Ibraheem Zakzaky came up with Shia Islam and got a good number of followers in the northern area.
He established the Shi’ite group for political and religious growth, although it was pursued in some cases. Following this persecution, they were forced to team up with the Sunnis to pursue the Islamic movement.
Although there are no real numbers of Shiite groups in Nigeria, they are regarded as the most populous Muslims in the country.
The population is estimated to be around 4 to 7 million followers. This group of followers dominates in areas like Kano, Zaria,, and Lagos respectively.
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Number of Ahmadiyya in Nigeria
It is another renowned Islamic movement in Nigeria that has won acceptance in certain parts of the country, although they are not as populous as the Shiites.
But Nigeria has the highest number of Ahmadiyya in Africa with a population of about 2,840,000. This population accounts for 3% of the country’s Islamic followers.
In Nigeria, there are several Ahmadiyya centers in parts of Nigeria, like the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Ibadan and the CTF. At present, this Islamist movement has created a weekly newspaper known as “The Truth”.
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Sufi population in Nigeria
You can call them “Sufi brotherhood”, “tariqas”, and “Sufi orders”, they’re all the same. Their mission as an Islamic movement is to preach about peaceful coexistence and has no sympathy for radical Islam.
Many Sufi disciples established themselves in Kano, Katsina, and a minority in other northern states. So far, the total number of Sufis disciples has not been revealed.
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Number of Quraniyoons in Nigeria
This movement above signifies ‘a mere man said it’ and is also referred to as the narrators of Muhammad. A different name for the movement is “Kala Kato”.
It has the slightest Islamic movement in Nigeria.
They are practically established in the poorest northern communities that’s why they are non-existent in most of the north; talk more about the other non-Muslim regions of the country.
As such, their population is not revealed either because it is not something to write in the house.
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Number of Boko Harams and Darul in Nigeria
You may be surprised to learn that the aforementioned group is one of the Islamic movements in Nigeria. As with other movements, they pretend to be promoters of religion.
The only thing that separates Boko Haram from other movements is the fact that they use violence as their means of promoting religion.
Consequently, they are now considered a terrorist group within the county, not Islamic extremists.
Poverty seems to be the catalyst for attracting citizens to this movement, although some politicians have a role to play in it. It’s because of some selfish profit aspirations.
These murderous Islamic movements came to light in the state of Borno. Up to now, they have their headquarters in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
At that time, the Islamic movement as it claims to be has a population of over 15,000 disciples in the country, although they are still recruiting a lot of members in the movement.
As for the other movements, they belong, if not the least out of the Islamic movements in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Muslim Total Population
With the entire Islamic movement, we’ve mentioned and perhaps with those we haven’t mentioned, the total number of Muslim worshippers in Nigeria is about 90 million.
It is the largest religious community in the country. As a result, it makes Nigeria the fifth country with the greatest Muslim population in the country.
Nigeria is the most densely populated country in Africa, with two major religions, as we rightly pointed out.
If Islam will turn out to be the most accepted religion in the country, you definitely should expect Nigeria to rank among the highest nations with Muslims in the continent.
Now you have seen the estimation of the Muslim population in the country, though they are ahead of Christianity with just a few margins.