Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has stated that the Boko Haram insurgency is not a religious conflict, stressing that the violence has affected both Muslims and Christians.
The governor made the remark on Monday while meeting with leaders of Muslim and Christian communities in the state, where he called for unity, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among the people.
Zulum said the activities of Boko Haram amount to an attack on civilisation and humanity, and not on any particular faith. He cautioned against narratives that attempt to portray the security challenge as a religious crisis, describing such views as false and harmful.
According to the governor, the insurgents have killed, injured and displaced people across religious lines, while both mosques and churches have been destroyed during the attacks. He added that available records show that many of the victims of the conflict are Muslims, further proving that the insurgency is not faith based.
He noted that the tragedy experienced by communities in the state should serve as a bond that unites the people in grief and strengthens collective efforts to overcome the challenge.
Zulum explained that his administration’s reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation programmes are guided by principles of justice, equity and inclusiveness, with interventions carried out based on need rather than religion.
The governor disclosed that the state government has rebuilt 45 Christian worship centres destroyed during the insurgency, including 16 in Hawul, 11 in Gwoza, 10 in Askira Uba and eight in Chibok. He added that numerous mosques, markets, schools and homes have also been reconstructed across the state.
He urged religious leaders to continue promoting interfaith harmony, condemning violence and encouraging reconciliation among their followers.
Zulum also called on the international community to partner with Borno State in addressing the root causes of the insurgency, which he identified as poverty, illiteracy, hunger and other socio economic challenges.
In their responses, the Borno State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop John Bakeni, and the leader of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Sheikh Jafar Ngamdu, commended the governor’s position and pledged to take the message of peace, unity and tolerance to their followers.
[NAN]