In a heartwarming demonstration of interfaith harmony, the Church of Christ Evangelical and Life Intercessory Ministry, Sabon Tasha, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Sunday, distributed essential food items to hundreds of underprivileged Muslims and Islamic Tsangaya schools.
The distribution, which took place at the Kano Road Central Mosque in Kaduna North western Nigeria, included bags , millets, and plastic kettles, benefiting Almajiri and beggars affiliated with the Association of Persons with Disabilities (APD), and some schools of Tsangaya islamic schools
Shortly after the distribution at Kano Road Central Mosque, Kaduna, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru expressed the church’s commitment towards reaching out to over 1,000 underprivileged Muslims across the North. He said the gesture is to alleviate the impact of economic challenges since the removal of fuel subsidies, and high cost of living, which lead to hunger protest nation-wide
According to Dr. Buru, the holy month of Ramadan provides a golden opportunity for Christians all over the world to strengthen good relationship with Muslims through interfaith Ramadan Iftar-breakfast, where they eat together, interact with one another, and deliberate on betters ways to live in peace and harmony irrespective of religion, ethnicity, cultural and historical background.
He emphasised that the initiative also promotes peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance among residents in the region. The church sees this as a reciprocal gesture for the goodwill extended by Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, a Muslim woman who always supports the church’s widows and orphans during Christmas, New Year, and Easter celebrations with bags of food item, clothes and cash to some Christian leaders.
Last year, the church distributed over 50 bags of food items across five Northerner states to enable poor Muslims to fully participate in the 30-day fasting and prayers of Ramadan.
This year’s distribution includes mats and plastic kettles, encouraging recipients to stay at home and pray for an end to the country’s rising challenges, such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and general insecurity related issues and high inflation.
“Last year, we shared over 50 bags of food grains with poor Muslims to strengthen them for praying and fasting throughout the 30 days of Ramadan”, the Pastor noted.
While appealing to well-meaning individuals, Buru called on traders to refrain from arbitrary price increases during Ramadan. He extended warm wishes to Muslims worldwide for a happy Ramadan, emphasising the importance of prayers for peace and unity in the country.
APD leaders expressed gratitude for the consistent support from the church over the past 11 years. They called on wealthy Muslims to contribute food items, enabling them to stay at home and pray for the nation during Ramadan.
A teacher at a Tsangaya Islamic school, Sheikh Ibrahim Musa highlighted the church’s ongoing support for the school, including the donation of food items and educational materials. Another teacher, Mallam Usman Mohammad, expressed appreciation for the church’s consistent support, concluding with prayers for blessings upon Buru and the church members.
He said that this year Ramadan coming amidst Christians lenten-period, stressing the need for both Muslims and Christians to dedicate more time praying to God to intervention and bring an end to the rising insecurity challenges bedeviling peace, stability and hunger protest in the country.
