The Interfaith Approach to Longstanding Violence in Nigeria
By Festus Iyorah
From Sojourners
February 26, 2020
Media Credit: Festus Iyorah
Behind closed doors of the Sheraton hotels in Abuja, dozens of religious men sporting long, colorful turbans rub shoulders with pastors and Catholic nuns, laughing and chatting as they break bread and sip coffee at the annual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC).Inside one of the hotel’s cozy halls, Christians and Muslims sit next to each other, discussing how civil authorities’ contributions to religious dialogue will foster national building.
This meeting, among other interfaith forums throughout the year, is contributing positively to the longstanding interreligious violence between two religions in Nigeria that have had historic tension — Muslims and Christians.
