Nigerian faith leaders call for interfaith reconciliation to finish violence

Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria have put their names to a recent declaration calling for an end to non secular violence and for greater interfaith understanding and reconciliation.

The Abuja Declaration for Sustainable Peace and Religious Harmony got here about following a visit to the country by the First Step Forum (FSF), which describes itself as global network of political leaders who aim to advertise religious freedom and peace.

The visit brought together local leaders from various communities and heard first hand in regards to the challenges impacting among the areas hardest hit by sectarian violence.

Despite being roughly 50 per cent Christian, Nigeria is currently ranked by Open Doors because the seventh worst country worldwide for anti-Christian persecution. Deadly raids, kidnappings and murders, either by Islamists, radicalized Fulani, or bandits mean that more Christians are killed for his or her faith in Nigeria than in all other countries combined.

Last yr the federal government announced a state of emergency, although some have criticised the federal government for failing to recognise the religious dimensions of the violence. There have been countless incidents of Islamic violence against Christian communities, but almost no cases of Christian violence against Muslims.

Muslims have been victims of the violence, nevertheless the perpetrators are likely to either be bandits or other Muslims attempting to implement their more hardline views on their co-religionists.

The FSF meeting heard how competition for scarce resources combined with religious tension is the essential driver for the continuing violence.

With the Abuja Declaration, each Christian and Muslim leaders affirmed, “We unequivocally reject all types of violence committed within the name of God or religion.”

The declaration also committed to greater efforts at reconciliation and interfaith communication on the local level, with the aim of defusing any local tension before it will probably spill over into violence.

Dawari George, a former Nigerian MP, who facilitated the FSF meeting, said, “The engagement with the religion leaders was touching. They kept referring to one another as brothers … whilst they made practical suggestions on find out how to take care of the problems.”