Christians and Muslims in their thousands gathered in Katsina State over the weekend to offer supplications for divine intervention in the various challenges bedeviling the country.

The interfaith event, held at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina, was organised by the Qur’aniya Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative, with prominent clerics from both religions, including foreign clerics, in attendance.

The event is aimed that promoting national unity, peaceful coexistence especially between members of both faiths, as well as for credible elections come 2027 polls.

The initiative was championed by the late Sheik Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, who was killed a few days ago by suspected gunmen in Dutsinma Local Government Area of the state.

Masussuka was buried Friday night in Katsina according to Islamic rites, with the state government urging a thorough investigation into his death.

Several of the clerics at the Saturday event paid emotional tributes to the deceased, with renewed calls on government to look into circumstances that led to his murder and bring those responsible to justice.

Prayers were offered by participating clerics for challenges facing the country, like insecurity and bribery and corruption, with supplications also offered for divine selection of right leaders for the country come 2027 polls.

Speaking, an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Alhasan Lamido, described religious and ethnic diversity as part of God’s divine purpose, adding that differences in faith, tribe or background should never become grounds for hatred or violence.

According to Lamidi, “God did not make a mistake by creating human beings differently, irrespective of their tribes or religions”.

He 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.

He said the massive turnout at the gathering demonstrated that the ideals of the deceased scholar had gained wider acceptance.

He, therefore, urged Muslims and Christians to reject religious hostility, insisting that attacking one another in the name of religion contradicted the teachings of their holy scriptures.

On his part, the Katsina State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Father Richard Shaibu Liti, offered supplications for an end to the security challenges, as well as corruption and related ills facing the country.

Liti also prayed for the emergence of credible, responsible and God-fearing leaders who would prioritise the welfare and security of Nigerians.

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 said the mammoth crowd at the event demonstrated that the vision of the late cleric in promoting religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, remained alive.

“We are glad that you all came despite the demise of our leader, Sheikh Masussuka, who was killed before this important gathering,” he said.

While praying for the peaceful return of participants to their respective destinations, he called on to sustain the ideals of unity and mutual respect championed by the deceased cleric.

Our correspondent reports that several of the clerics came from within an outside the country, including from Senegal, Niger Republic, and Cameroon.

Some of the prominent personalities at the gathering were Sheikh Nura Khalid, Sheikh Muhammad Usman Damgugu, Aliyu Yusuf from Kaduna, representatives of the Qadiriyyah movement, CAN leaders, former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalong, among others.