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 show of interfaith harmony.
The General Overseer of the church, Yohanna Buru, said Muslim participation in the church’s annual Christmas celebration has become a long-standing tradition.
Buru said the event attracts participants from all 19 northern states, including Muslims from different Islamic sects such as Tijjaniyya, Shi’ite groups under the Islamic Movement, and Sunni Muslims.
According to him, the gathering is aimed at celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ while promoting peace, unity and mutual understanding among adherents of different faiths.
“This is the 15th time Muslims and Christians are gathering for this historic annual event to strengthen our relationship and foster unity,” he said.
Buru added that Muslim delegations presented gifts to the church as symbols of love, friendship and unity between the two religions.
He said the celebration took place amid economic hardship, insecurity, rising food prices, poverty and unemployment, stressing that interfaith cooperation and prayers remain critical to national stability.
The cleric noted that hundreds of Muslims have consistently attended the church’s Christmas services over the years and urged religious leaders to intensify prayers for peace.
“We are all children of Adam and Eve. We worship one God, have holy books, and believe in paradise and hell. These shared values should unite us,” he said.
An Islamic scholar, Salihu Mai-Barota, said Muslims attended the service to celebrate with Christians and to promote religious tolerance.
He urged adherents of both faiths to continue praying for peace and advised youths to shun religious violence and avoid spreading fake news on social media.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Musa, an Imam from Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, congratulated Christians on the Christmas celebration.
Musa urged youths to support government efforts aimed at promoting peace and unity, noting that Muslims and Christians regularly visit one another during religious celebrations.
