Thousands of Muslims and Christians from Nigeria and neighbouring countries gathered at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on Saturday for an interfaith prayer event. The gathering, organised by the Qur’aniya Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative, aimed to promote national unity, peaceful coexistence, and credible elections. Prominent Islamic scholars, Christian clerics, and peace advocates from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Senegal, and the Niger Republic attended the event. The gathering was a testament to the power of unity and cooperation among different faith groups.
The event was held amid grief over the killing of renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, who championed the initiative. Participants offered prayers according to their respective religious traditions, seeking divine intervention against insecurity, corruption, religious intolerance, and political violence. The massive turnout demonstrated that the vision of the late cleric for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence remained alive. The gathering was a show of solidarity and support for the ideals of the deceased scholar.
Among the prominent personalities at the gathering were Sheikh Nura Khalid, Sheikh Muhammad Usman Damgugu, Aliyu Yusuf from Kaduna, representatives of the Qadiriyyah movement, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leaders, former minister of sport, Solomon Dalong, and other Islamic scholars. The secretary of the initiative, Mustapha Haruna, expressed appreciation to participants for honouring the invitation despite the tragic killing of the movement’s leader shortly before the gathering. Haruna prayed for the peaceful return of participants to their respective destinations.
The Katsina State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Father Richard Shaibu Liti, offered prayers for an end to insecurity, corruption, and other challenges confronting the country. He also prayed for the emergence of credible, responsible, and God-fearing leaders who would prioritise the welfare and security of Nigerians. The cleric’s remarks resonated with the participants, who were seeking a better future for the country.
Sheikh Alhasan Lamido, a prominent Islamic scholar, described religious and ethnic diversity as part of God’s divine purpose. He stressed that differences in faith, tribe, or background should never become grounds for hatred or violence. Lamido condemned the killing of Sheikh Masussuka, saying those behind the murder had wrongly assumed that eliminating the cleric would bring his peace movement to an end.
The massive turnout at the gathering demonstrated that the ideals of the deceased scholar had gained wider acceptance. Participants were urged to sustain the ideals of unity and mutual respect championed by the deceased scholar. The event was a call to action for Muslims and Christians to work together towards a more peaceful and harmonious society.
The interfaith prayer gathering was a significant event that brought together people from different faith backgrounds to promote unity and peaceful coexistence. The participants left the gathering with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to work towards a better future for Nigeria. The government has been urged to investigate the murder of Sheikh Masussuka and bring those responsible to justice.
Key points
- The interfaith prayer gathering in Katsina was attended by thousands of Muslims and Christians from Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
- The event was held amid grief over the killing of renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka.
- Participants demanded justice for Sheikh Masussuka and urged the government to investigate his murder.
