Religious leaders warn youths to stop destroying places of worship in Nigeria

The recent president of the Christian council of Nigeria, Most Rev. Benebo FubaraManuel and the former Imam of the National Assembly Legislative Quaters Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru, on Tuesday, has sent warnings to the youths on the attacks of sacred places, stating that it could put the country in danger.

According to media records, in the year 2022, over 139 clerics and worshippers were killed across Nigeria and at least 394 faithfuls were kidnapped, alongside the destruction of worship centers across the country.

Speaking on the theme of the workshop, ‘The Protection of Holy Sites and Sacred Places: The Role of Young Leaders’, Fubara-MAnuel stated his regret on how it is youths who are being used to desecrate holy sites. He stated how youths are being picked as political thugs or misguided youths.

“They are sometimes picked as political thugs or as misguided and misinformed youths about the history of their faiths or their communities and made to engage in war or in some destructive activities.” He said.

The clerics spoke with some youth religioud leaders at a one day high-level engagement, initiated by a KAICIID fellow, Rev. Dr. Uzoaku Williams, with support from the International Dialogue Centre, KAICIID in Abuja.

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“Accordingly, there are always two sets of human folks, the evil doers who promote distraction and reject the idea of togetherness in pursuing common good, and the righteous men who are passionate about development, shared values and protection of rights, lives and property. The former must be checked and prevented by the latter.

“Our youth have the greatest and effective role to play, considering the importance of their needs in securing a brighter future and changing the negative narrative of intolerance, religious conflict, mistrust and distraction of life and property, especially sacred places.”