Muslims Join Christians at Kaduna Christmas Service

Muslims Join Christians at Kaduna Christmas Service
Interfaith event marks 15 years of religious cooperation
Clerics urge prayers, tolerance, youth responsibility nationwide

Hundreds of Muslims from across Northern Nigeria on Thursday joined Christians at the Christmas service of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry in Kaduna, in a public show of interfaith unity and peaceful coexistence.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said the presence of Muslims at the annual Christmas celebration had become a tradition sustained for over a decade, attracting participants from across the 19 northern states.

Buru explained that Muslims from various Islamic sects, including Tijjaniyya, Sunni groups and members of the Islamic Movement, attended the service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and reaffirm their commitment to peace and mutual respect.

According to him, this year’s gathering marked the 15th edition of the joint celebration, which has continued to strengthen relationships between Christians and Muslims in the region. He added that Muslim delegations also presented gifts to the church as symbols of love, unity and friendship.

The cleric noted that the event came at a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, rising food prices and unemployment, stressing that interfaith cooperation and prayers were critical to national stability.

Buru urged religious leaders to intensify prayers for peace and encouraged Nigerians to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in tackling security challenges across the country.

“We are all children of Adam and Eve. We worship one God and share similar values that should unite us,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Islamic scholar Sheikh Salihu Mai Barota said Muslims attended the service to celebrate with Christians and promote tolerance. He advised youths to shun religious violence and avoid spreading false information on social media.

Imam Ibrahim Musa from Igabi Local Government Area congratulated Christians on Christmas and said Muslims and Christians regularly visit one another during religious celebrations to foster understanding.

He described the annual service as a strong symbol of interfaith harmony, noting that Pastor Buru received the 2022 United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week Award for his peacebuilding efforts.