Interfaith Media Practitioners Seek Synergy Against Insecurity

The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria) has called for synergy in the fight against insecurity as Christians celebrate Christmas and Nigerians prepare to enter a new year amid widespread security challenges.

In a statement from the Secretary of the Trustees/Governing Board of the Guild, Samuel Egburonu, the group warned that it would be difficult for the country to overcome insecurity without deliberate and sustained interfaith collaboration with the government.

The Guild condemned the ongoing killings, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, communal clashes, and the manipulation of religious identities, describing them as a grave threat to national unity, economic stability, and social trust.

GIMP-Nigeria noted that places of worship, highways, farms, and communities have become unsafe, leaving citizens traumatised and deeply divided. According to the group, military responses alone have proven insufficient because insecurity in Nigeria is fuelled not only by weapons but also by mistrust, misinformation, exclusion, and the abuse of religion.

The Chairman of GIMP-Nigeria, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, stated, “Nigeria’s insecurity is not only a security failure; it is a trust failure. Interfaith collaboration is not symbolic; it is a frontline security strategy that the government can no longer afford to ignore.”

GIMP-Nigeria stressed that structured interfaith synergy between Muslim and Christian leaders, media professionals, and government institutions can significantly reduce violence by countering extremist narratives, promoting early-warning intelligence at the grassroots, mediating communal tensions, and discouraging hate speech.

The Guild called on the federal, state, and local governments to institutionalise engagement with credible interfaith bodies, support interfaith peacebuilding and counter-narrative initiatives, and integrate faith-sensitive approaches into national security planning.

“A government that sidelines faith actors in a deeply diverse religious society like Nigeria weakens its own security architecture,” the group warned.

GIMP-Nigeria also urged media practitioners to act responsibly by avoiding sensationalism, religious profiling, and conflict-driven reporting, particularly during religious seasons. The media, the Guild stated, must serve as a force for de-escalation, accuracy in reporting, and national cohesion.

Faith leaders were also challenged to speak with one voice against violence, join hands with the government to discipline inflammatory preaching, and consistently affirm that no religion justifies the killing of innocent people.

As Nigerians mark Christmas—a season associated with peace, compassion, and goodwill—and prepare for the New Year, GIMP-Nigeria expressed confidence that peace remains achievable if leadership is courageous and inclusive.

“Nigeria’s diversity is not a curse but a strength. The New Year must mark a shift from symbolic interfaith meetings to practical, result-driven partnerships with the government for a safer and more united nation,” the Guild stated.