As preparations for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration continue, a Nigerian pastor has led a group of Christian pastors and youth to join Muslims in cleaning the Eid prayer ground and its surrounding environment in Kaduna State. This initiative is part of efforts to promote religious tolerance, peace, and unity.
The gesture, which took place on Tuesday 2025 in kasuwar Magani ,kajuru local government in the southern part of Kaduna State, was aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence, encouraging interfaith dialogue, and building stronger ties between different religious communities.
Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, organized the team of Christian leaders and youth to support their Muslim neighbors in cleaning the Eid prayer ground in preparation for the festivities.
The cleaning exercise, which lasted several hours, provided an opportunity for Christians and Muslims to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange gestures of goodwill, and discuss ways to deepen religious understanding and collaboration.
According to Pastor Yohanna, this is not the first time Christians are participating in such an initiative. At Kasuwar Magani, located in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Christian youths and elders have regularly joined their Muslim counterparts in preparing the Eid prayer ground. These joint efforts, involving both Christian pastors and Muslim imams, aim to create a clean and welcoming environment for worship, while fostering unity and mutual respect.
Pastor Buru emphasized the shared values between Muslims and Christians, noting that both faiths believe in one God and have sacred texts—the Bible and the Quran. Together, participants cleared overgrown grass and removed trash around the mosque, beautifying the area.
Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, who personally took part in the exercise, was accompanied by Reverend Danjuma Mazadu Makama and several Christian youths. They all stressed the importance of promoting peace and unity through such acts of service.
“We came here to support our brothers by cutting the grass and cleaning the mosque environment, with the goal of promoting peace and unity,” Pastor Buru stated.
He also extended his Sallah greetings to Muslims around the world and called on wealthy individuals to remember orphans, widows, and the less fortunate during the celebrations.
“We hope to continue this initiative annually to foster religious harmony in the region,” Pastor Buru added. “We were here last year, and we are back again this year to strengthen our relationship.”
He thanked the Muslim community for welcoming their support, adding:
“We appreciate our Muslim brothers for allowing us to join them in this meaningful act.”
Pastor Buru also sent greetings to prominent Islamic leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, Sheikh Ahmed Mahmud Gumi, Sheikh Salihu Mai-Barota, and his friend, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano.
He expressed gratitude to a notable Muslim woman, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, for her continued humanitarian work. He noted that every Christmas, Hajiya Ramatu decorates his home with Christmas trees and provides food and support to Christian widows.
“We must join hands to make Nigeria a better place for future generations. We must learn to forgive one another and support the government in building a peaceful nation,” Pastor Buru said.
Reverend Danjuma Mazadu Makama of Kasuwan Magani echoed this sentiment, stating:
“We came here to strengthen our relationship and support our Muslim brothers by helping clean the mosque premises. We’ve done this for years, using our rakes, hoes, cutlasses, and local brooms.”
Jonathan Peter, a Christian youth leader from the Community Initiative to Promote Peace, emphasized the long-standing tradition of Christian youth joining their Muslim neighbors to clean the mosque during Eid.
“This has helped boost good relations between Christians and Muslims in our community,” he said.
In response, Imam Akilu Mohammed, the Chief Imam of Kajuru Local Government, expressed joy over the collaborative effort.
“This isn’t the first time our Christian brothers have helped us prepare the prayer ground. Their support has greatly contributed to peace-building and religious tolerance in our region,” Imam Mohammed said.
He recalled a recent incident when both communities came together to support one another after a windstorm damaged churches and mosques, praying for protection against future disasters.
Imam Mohammed Abduljalal Abdullahi also offered prayers for continued peace and thanked the Christian pastors for their solidarity.
The Network of Peace Journalists (NPJ), who covered the event, praised the initiative. Team leader Ibrahima Yakubu described it as inspiring to see Christians working alongside Muslims in preparation for Eid.
“This is a positive step forward. Let’s continue living as one people and work to eliminate religious intolerance,” Yakubu said.
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