Insecurity drives Muslims to Christian fold to seek peace
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Ordinary Nigerians up North reiterated at the weekend that they are willing to live together in peace despite the religious divide spewed by murderous jihadists backed and exploited by the political elite now caught up in the grip of insecurity.
The same concern about insecurity drove two groups of Muslims to attend church service, one in Kaduna and the other in Zaria, in a state where Christians and Muslims have cohabited peacefully for decades until the recent revolt against the elite by the Talakawas spearheaded by Boko Haram.
Muslims attended the Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Church in Kaduna to strengthen good relationship between them and Christians and Pastor Yohanna Buru expressed appreciation for the large turnout.
The attendees included Muslim scholars, traditional rulers, peace ambassadors, and peace building stakeholders from Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
Buru said Muslims joined Christian friends and relatives in the service to promote the good relationship all the faithful share together.
He that Muslims from various states in the North attend church yearly to celebrate Christmas with Christians, per the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), quoted by Daily Trust.
“Even the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession did not stop them from coming. Muslims in large numbers visited the church and joined Christians during the Christmas service to foster peace and unity,” he said.
“We must join hands and pray to Almighty God to bring an end to corruption, banditry, terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping and unnecessary killings of human being in the region.”
Buru’s Christmas sermon this year dwelt on religious tolerance, forgiveness, better understanding, peace, love, and unity among Nigerians.
He also stressed the need for both Christian and Muslim clerics to be more committed through prayers for peace, stability, and progress in the country.
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Muslims attend church in Zaria, present gift to Christians
Another Muslim group called the Shiites attended a Christmas service at HEKAN Church in Zaria also to strengthen religious tolerance and peace in Kaduna State now torn apart by daily terrorist attacks.
The Muslim group presented a gift to the church as a sign of love.
The leader of the team, Isa Mshelgaru, said they attended the service to promote love, tolerance, and understanding among Nigerians, according to NAN, reported by PREMIMUM TIMES.
“We decided to attend this church service today because today is Christmas Day, a day that the birth of Jesus Christ is being celebrated over the globe and we feel that we also have our concern to share with them the feelings of the day Jesus was born.
“The coming of Jesus to this world is a blessing to everybody, so we wish that we should come and celebrate this glorious day with them,” he explained.
He said Muslims consider Christians as their fellow brothers and sisters in humanity, and they attended the church service to join Christians in celebrating and sharing the joy of the day with them.
“As they [Christians] attach importance to this day so also we attach so much importance to the day and that is why we came today to clear all the unnecessary imaginary boundaries that have been created between Muslims and Christians.
“This is important now that the country is facing multiple security challenges that require all hands to be on deck in other to overcome them.”
Mshelgaru advised Nigerians to come together regardless of religious, tribal or political divide to save the nation.
Pastor Hakila Darmah expressed appreciation for the visit, stressing that the milestone would open a new beginning and remain memorable for a very long time.
He called for a sustained relationship to keep the spirit of brotherhood floating between Christians and Muslims.
“In fact, I am so excited that they can think of a thing like this to come and visit us on Christmas Day celebration like this,” Darmah said.
He appealed to other Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of the Shiite Muslim group to strengthen tolerance, understanding, and brotherliness.