Zainab Ali
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, on Monday met with leaders of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as part of renewed efforts to deepen interfaith collaboration and reinforce peacebuilding initiatives across the state amid rising insecurity.
The consultative meeting, held at the Government House, Maiduguri, focused on strengthening partnerships between the government and religious institutions to counter insecurity and promote unity among residents.
Addressing the gathering, Zulum underscored the pivotal role of religious leaders in shaping messages of tolerance, mutual respect and communal harmony. He noted that Borno’s interwoven family structure — where relatives often belong to different faiths yet live peacefully under the same roof — remained a unique strength that must be preserved.
“Religious conflict is alien to us. The Boko Haram conflict is not a religious crisis; it is an assault on our civilisation and humanity,” the governor said.
He emphasised that both Muslims and Christians had suffered from insurgent attacks, adding that the shared experience of loss should strengthen a sense of collective responsibility.
On reconstruction efforts, Zulum said the state government had been guided by equity and justice, rebuilding communities based strictly on need rather than religious or ethnic considerations.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to guaranteeing the safety and freedom of worship of all citizens and urged faith leaders to use their platforms to promote unity, tolerance and peace.
He also appealed to the international community to partner with the state in tackling the underlying drivers of insurgency, including poverty, hunger and illiteracy, as well as in enhancing the capacity of Nigeria’s armed forces.
Responding, Malam Sa’adu Ngamdu, who represented the State Director of Administration of JNI, commended the governor for initiating the dialogue and pledged the organisation’s continued partnership in peacebuilding efforts.
Also speaking, the CAN Chairman in Borno State and Auxiliary Bishop of the Maiduguri Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. John Bakeni, said Nigeria’s security and development challenges must be addressed internally through unity, justice and responsible leadership.
“Nobody can solve our problem from the outside. If we take what the governor said and implement it justifiably, we are going to have a peaceful society,” Bakeni said.
He urged leaders at all levels to act with fairness, devoid of religious or ethnic bias, to strengthen public trust and promote peaceful coexistence.