A strong message of interfaith unity was on display in Kaduna on Thursday as hundreds of Muslims from across Northern Nigeria joined Christians at the Christmas service of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, reinforcing calls for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said the presence of Muslim faithful at the annual Christmas service has become a sustained tradition over the years, attracting participants from all 19 Northern states. According to him, the gathering reflects a growing culture of interfaith unity in a region often challenged by religious and social tensions.
Pastor Buru explained that Muslims from various Islamic sects, including Tijjaniyya, Shi’ite groups under the Islamic Movement, and Sunni communities, attended the service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and promote peace, unity, and understanding among Nigerians.
He noted that the 2025 gathering marked the 15th consecutive year Muslims and Christians had come together for the event, describing it as a historic platform for strengthening relationships between the two faiths. Muslim delegations also presented gifts to the church as symbols of friendship and shared humanity.
The cleric said the message of interfaith unity was especially important given the country’s current challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, rising food costs, poverty, and unemployment. He stressed that cooperation between religious communities and collective prayers were vital for national stability and cohesion.
Pastor Buru further urged religious leaders to intensify prayers for peace and encouraged Nigerians to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in tackling security challenges. He reminded attendees of the shared values between Christianity and Islam, noting common beliefs in one God, sacred scriptures, and moral accountability.
An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Salihu Mai Barota, said Muslims attended the Christmas service to stand in solidarity with Christians and promote peace and religious tolerance. He advised both Christians and Muslims to continue praying for the nation and urged young people to reject religious violence and avoid spreading misinformation on social media.
Similarly, Imam Ibrahim Musa from Igabi Local Government Area congratulated Christians on the Christmas celebration and called on youths to support government initiatives aimed at peace and unity. He said it was common for Muslims and Christians to visit one another during major religious celebrations as a way of fostering respect and understanding.
Imam Musa described the annual Christmas service as a powerful symbol of interfaith unity in Nigeria. He also disclosed that Pastor Buru received the 2022 United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week Award from King Abdullah II of Jordan, in recognition of his long-standing commitment to peacebuilding.
Other speakers at the event, including Sheikh Ahmed Rufai and Mallam Lawal Maduru, echoed calls for sustained prayers for peace, responsible use of social media, and warned young people against drug abuse, stressing that unity across faiths remains key to Nigeria’s future.