Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum convened a meeting with leaders from Jama’atu Nasril Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria to enhance interfaith collaboration and strengthen peacebuilding efforts in the face of rising insecurity. The meeting took place at the Government House in Maiduguri and aimed to foster partnerships between government and religious institutions.
During the gathering, Zulum highlighted the crucial role of religious leaders in promoting messages of tolerance and communal harmony. He remarked on the unique family structures in Borno, where individuals of different faiths coexist peacefully.
“Religious conflict is foreign to us. The Boko Haram issue is not a religious crisis; it is an assault on our civilization and humanity,” Zulum stated. He pointed out that both Muslims and Christians have suffered due to insurgent attacks, emphasizing shared grief and collective responsibility.
In terms of reconstruction efforts, Zulum informed attendees that the state government is committed to rebuilding communities based on needs rather than religious or ethnic identities. He noted that 45 Christian places of worship, destroyed during the insurgency, have been reconstructed.
Zulum called for the international community’s partnership in tackling the underlying causes of insecurity, such as poverty and illiteracy, and urged support in enhancing the capacity of Nigeria’s armed forces.
Representatives from both religious organizations expressed their commitment to peacebuilding efforts and stressed that Nigeria’s challenges must be addressed internally through unity and justice. They agreed that leaders must act fairly to promote public trust and peaceful coexistence.
