Hundreds of Muslims from across northern Nigeria have joined Christians at a Christmas service in Kaduna State to promote religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The gathering took place on Thursday at Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, where Muslims and Christians came together to celebrate Christmas and strengthen relations between the two religious communities.
The event, organised annually by the church, has become a platform for promoting interfaith understanding and peace in northern Nigeria.
The church’s General Overseer, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said the gathering marked the 15th time Muslims and Christians had come together for the celebration.
He said participants included members of different Islamic groups, such as Tijjaniyya, the Islamic Movement and Sunni Muslims.
Buru said Muslim participants also presented gifts to the church as symbols of friendship, love and unity.
He noted that the gathering was particularly important amid economic hardship, insecurity, rising food prices, poverty and unemployment.
The pastor urged religious leaders to intensify prayers for peace and encouraged Nigerians to support security agencies in addressing the country’s security challenges.
He said Muslims and Christians shared common values that should encourage unity rather than division.
An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Salihu Mai-Barota, said Muslims attended the service to celebrate with Christians and promote religious tolerance.
He urged adherents of both religions to continue praying for peace and advised young people to avoid religious violence and the spread of misinformation on social media.
Imam Ibrahim Musa, from Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, also congratulated Christians on the Christmas celebration.
He encouraged young people to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and unity.
Musa said Muslims and Christians regularly visited one another during religious celebrations, including the birth of Prophet Muhammad, to strengthen mutual respect.
The event was attended by other religious leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed Rufai and Mallam Lawal Maduru, who called for continued prayers for peace and warned young people against drug abuse.
The gathering took place on Thursday at Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, where Muslims and Christians came together to celebrate Christmas and strengthen relations between the two religious communities.
The event, organised annually by the church, has become a platform for promoting interfaith understanding and peace in northern Nigeria.
The church’s General Overseer, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said the gathering marked the 15th time Muslims and Christians had come together for the celebration.
He said participants included members of different Islamic groups, such as Tijjaniyya, the Islamic Movement and Sunni Muslims.
Buru said Muslim participants also presented gifts to the church as symbols of friendship, love and unity.
He noted that the gathering was particularly important amid economic hardship, insecurity, rising food prices, poverty and unemployment.
The pastor urged religious leaders to intensify prayers for peace and encouraged Nigerians to support security agencies in addressing the country’s security challenges.
He said Muslims and Christians shared common values that should encourage unity rather than division.
An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Salihu Mai-Barota, said Muslims attended the service to celebrate with Christians and promote religious tolerance.
He urged adherents of both religions to continue praying for peace and advised young people to avoid religious violence and the spread of misinformation on social media.
Imam Ibrahim Musa, from Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, also congratulated Christians on the Christmas celebration.
He encouraged young people to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and unity.
Musa said Muslims and Christians regularly visited one another during religious celebrations, including the birth of Prophet Muhammad, to strengthen mutual respect.
The event was attended by other religious leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed Rufai and Mallam Lawal Maduru, who called for continued prayers for peace and warned young people against drug abuse.