Christians, Muslims Pray For Peace, Demand Justice For Masussuka

Thousands of Muslims and Christians from across Nigeria and neighbouring African countries converged on the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on Saturday for an interfaith prayer gathering aimed at promoting national unity, peaceful coexistence and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The gathering, organised by the Qur’aniya Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative, attracted prominent Islamic scholars, Christian clerics and religious groups and peace advocates from Nigeria, Chad, Cameron, Senegal and the Niger Republic.

The event, held amid grief over the killing of renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, who championed the initiative, witnessed emotional tributes and renewed calls for the government to investigate his murder and bring those responsible to justice.

Participants, who began arriving at the stadium in the early hours of the day, offered prayers according to their respective religious traditions, seeking divine intervention against insecurity, corruption, religious intolerance and political violence.

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.

Speaking at the event, 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 said the overwhelming attendance demonstrated that the vision of the late cleric for 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.

He prayed for the peaceful return of participants to their respective destinations and urged them to sustain the ideals of unity and mutual respect championed by the deceased scholar.

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.

In his remarks, Sheikh Alhasan Lamido described religious and ethnic diversity as part of God’s divine purpose, stressing that differences in faith, tribe or background should never become grounds for hatred or violence.

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

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.

According to him, the massive turnout at the gathering demonstrated that the ideals of the deceased scholar had gained wider acceptance.

He 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.

Similarly, Professor Danladi Yahya, who represented Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, described Masussuka’s killing as unjustifiable and an attack on the collective aspirations of people working towards religious harmony.

He said the large attendance at the cleric’s funeral and Saturday’s interfaith gathering demonstrated that those responsible for his death had failed to extinguish his message.

Yahya predicted that the late scholar’s teachings and contributions to interfaith understanding would attract further academic research and inspire future generations.

He maintained that the foundation laid by Masussuka was strong enough to sustain the movement beyond his lifetime.

The professor also demanded a thorough investigation into the killing, stressing that justice for the deceased remained a collective responsibility.

Also speaking, prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Nura Khalid called on the government and security agencies to investigate the murder and ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted.

Khalid urged authorities to confront all forms of insecurity, including violence perpetrated by armed groups and inflammatory statements capable of inciting religious hatred.

He stressed that individuals who promote violence through dangerous rhetoric should also be held accountable.

The cleric offered prayers for peaceful elections in 2027 and the emergence of leaders committed to justice, national development and the protection of citizens.

A Christian cleric, Apostle Bulus, described Masussuka as an exceptional advocate of religious understanding whose influence had broken longstanding barriers between Muslims and Christians.

He disclosed that the late scholar’s example had inspired him to enter a mosque for the first time during activities honouring the deceased.

“Because of Masussuka, I entered a mosque for the first time yesterday,” he said.

Bulus expressed optimism that the cleric’s death would further strengthen the determination of Nigerians to pursue peace and religious tolerance.

“Masussuka has done a lot, and we will consolidate on what he started,” he added.

In another tribute, Rev. Elisha Pam, representing Rev. Yohana Y. Buru, conveyed condolences to the family, followers and supporters of the late cleric.

He described the killing as a criminal act that must not be given religious justification and called on the government to identify and arrest those responsible.

Pam stressed that Nigerians were destined to live together despite their religious and ethnic differences, urging participants to make interfaith dialogue a continuous national engagement.

“This gathering should not be the first and last. We must continue to come together as one people because God has brought us together as Nigerians,” he said.

Representatives of the Qadiriyyah movement also pledged support for the peace initiative, emphasising the need for sustained cooperation among religious organisations to prevent violence and strengthen national unity.

The gathering ended with prayers offered by various Muslim groups and Christian clerics for peace, national stability, justice for the late Sheikh Masussuka and successful democratic elections in 2027.

The event further underscored growing determination among religious leaders and followers to sustain Masussuka’s campaign for interfaith harmony, with participants insisting that his death must not mark the end of the movement he championed.