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Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, has firmly stated that the Boko Haram conflict is not a religious crisis, directly addressing the leadership of the Muslim and Christian faiths in the state and calling for reconciliation and harmony among all residents.
The Governor emphasized that the conflict is fundamentally an “assault on our civilisation, humanity, and all that we hold dear, irrespective of creed.”
Governor Zulum on Monday, December 1, stressed the crucial need for community leaders to collectively dispel false narratives that seek to portray the security crisis as religious. He asserted that religious conflict is alien to Borno State and pointed to the actions of the perpetrators as proof:
“The perpetrators of violence have killed, maimed, and displaced Muslims and Christians alike. They have destroyed Mosques and Churches with equal impunity.”
According to the governor, the statistics of victimhood are stark and heartbreaking. He noted that the data clearly shows the overwhelming majority of those who have suffered death, abduction, and displacements are their Muslim brothers and sisters. He urged the tragedy to bind the people of Borno in a common grief and solidarity for a united response.
Zulum underscored that his administration’s reconstruction, resettlement, and rehabilitation programmes are strictly guided by principles of justice, equity, and inclusivity.
To demonstrate this commitment, the Governor revealed that his administration had reconstructed 45 Christian worship centres destroyed during the insurgency. This number includes 16 from Hawul, 11 from Gwoza, 10 from Askira-Uba, and 8 from Chibok.
“We did not do all these as a favour; we did it as a duty. Just as we have rebuilt countless mosques, markets, schools, and homes,” he explained.
He urged religious leaders to continue to champion interfaith harmony, denouncing violence and fostering reconciliation. He further called upon the international community to partner with the state in addressing the underlying causes of the insurgency, which he said include endemic poverty, illiteracy, and hunger.
Responding to the Governor’s call, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Bakeni, and his counterpart from Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Sheikh Jafar Ngamdu, promised to take the message of peace and unity to the people.
