Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a rare and powerful display of interfaith solidarity, Muslim and Christian leaders in Borno State have issued a joint call to their followers to embrace peaceful coexistence, stressing that religious harmony is not merely a lofty ideal but an essential precondition for achieving sustainable development and lasting peace in a state that has been ravaged by more than a decade of insurgency. The religious leaders made the call on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at an interfaith gathering organised by the Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno State chapter, Special Apostle Joshua Akeredolu, as part of activities marking his Episcopal Consecration as the sixth leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church in Maiduguri.
Speaking with journalists after the event, Akeredolu said the gathering was aimed at bringing Christians and Muslims together to discuss peace, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. "The essence of today's meeting is to bring both faiths, Christians and Muslims together to talk on peace, most especially peaceful coexistence within the state," he said. Akeredolu explained that his philosophy was that humanity should come before religious differences, stressing that people should first recognise one another as creations of God. "My philosophy of life is that before you have your own religion, you are a human being. Therefore, I should look at you as a creation of God while you replicate the same. I should respect you first as a human being. So with this understanding, we decided to organise this event so that both faiths will see each other as one family," he said.
He described the gathering as the first of its kind in terms of the number of participants and the representation of different religious sects. "The event, though, is the first of its kind in a large gathering, but we have been having both faiths meet at different times. For almost two or three years, we have been doing it underground. What made today's own to be first of its kind is because we brought together different sects, both within the Muslim community and the Christian circle," Akeredolu said. He noted that scholars who addressed the gathering focused on peaceful coexistence and the need for residents to recognise that development could not be achieved without peace. "Generally, we pushed for a lasting peace in the state. This is essential because what we want now is peace in this state and the country at large irrespective of your religion," he stated.
Also speaking, the Jumaat Imam of the Federal Government College Maiduguri Central Mosque, Ali Isah, said Borno's experience with more than a decade of insurgency had underscored the importance of religious harmony and peaceful coexistence. "Clerics from both religions have made followers know the importance of peace, especially here in Borno because of what we have experienced in this issue of terrorism, extremism and others. So we came to gather and enlighten our people," he said. Isah stressed that both Christianity and Islam promote peace and do not sanction violence or extremism. "We have shown that both the Christian and Islamic religions are divine religions. They are both sent from God to mankind. No religion ordered anybody to go and kill or engage in extremism or fanaticism. All these habits were condemned by both religions," he declared.
Borno State has experienced prolonged insecurity linked to the Boko Haram insurgency and other extremist groups, resulting in significant loss of lives, displacement and disruption of socio-economic activities. Against this background, efforts to strengthen interfaith dialogue and community cohesion remain important to rebuilding trust and supporting the state's recovery. The leaders therefore urged Muslims and Christians to reject religious intolerance, extremism and hatred, and work together to promote peace and development across Borno State.
The interfaith gathering in Maiduguri comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with heightened religious tensions, particularly in the wake of controversial statements by some religious leaders regarding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and the alleged marginalisation of Christians in the country. The Borno leaders' call for unity and their insistence that both religions are divine and condemn violence stands in stark contrast to the divisive rhetoric that has dominated national discourse in recent weeks. Their message is a powerful reminder that even in the face of extreme adversity, communities can choose solidarity over division, and that the path to recovery lies not in religious triumphalism but in mutual respect and shared humanity.
As Borno State continues its long and painful journey towards recovery from the devastation of insurgency, the voices of its religious leaders offer a beacon of hope. They have shown that it is possible to rise above the politics of division and embrace a vision of Nigeria where faith is not a weapon but a bridge. The question now is whether the rest of the country will follow their example.
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