The Christian Association of Nigeria and the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State have signed an agreement to live in peace despite the country’s insecurity.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday when a delegation from the League of Imams and Alfas delivered a condolence letter to the CAN Chairman, Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, in response to the attack on Christians in Owo, Ondo State.
Unknown assailants attacked a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo State, killing 40 people.
Sheikh Tajudeen Adewunmi, the Secretary-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, who led the Islamic leaders to the CAN Chairman’s office in Abeokuta, described the Owo attack as unfortunate.
Adewunmi, who was accompanied by the Imam of Makun, Sagamu, Dr. Tajudeen Ashaye, and other religious leaders from across the state, presented a letter of condolence addressed to the Christian community in the state, expressing regret for the incident.
He, on the other hand, reassured Christians in the state of peaceful coexistence, saying that no Muslim would invade a church or attack a Christian in the name of religion.
“We decided to pay you a condolence visit on behalf of all Muslims in the state following the Owo incident,” he said.
“We’ve come to express our outrage at the killings and to reassure you that Muslims are not murderers and will not attack Christians in the state.”
“We’ve always regarded ourselves as a family, and we’ll continue to do so.” Our families are made up of Christians and Muslims. There is no reason for us to attack ourselves.
“The league felt concerned on behalf of all Muslims in Ogun State, which is why we were asked to come down and express our condolences.”
“We, the Muslims, have come to express our sorrow.” And we’re here to assure you that Muslims in Ogun are very peaceful, and we’re very friendly with Christians. We hope and pray that something like this will never happen again.”
In response, the CAN chairman praised the league for its generosity.
Christians, according to Akin-Akinsanya, do not confuse Muslims with the attackers of Owo church, whom he described as “arch enemies.”
Given the level of mutual relationship that exists between the two religion adherents, he said he found it difficult to believe that such a heinous act could occur in the South West.
There is a divide between the two religions’ followers.
“It’s not easy for us to fight here,” he said. It was perpetrated by people who are neither Muslims nor Christians. They are satanic in nature.
“They’re our foes.” They aren’t Muslims at all. Because we are a family, such things that occur in the north cannot occur here. It’s rare to see a family without members of both religions, but it’s unfortunate that this happened. Our arch enemies launched the attack.
“I’m overjoyed. Let’s just say this is the first time something like this has happened, and I applaud the leadership of the Islamic religion in Ogun State for doing so. I pray that the Almighty God blesses each and every one of us.
“In my own family, I even have someone who was close to Chief Imam in Ijebu-land before he died, my elder brother, who has the same father and mother as him and with whom I had a close relationship.”
“These assailants are neither Muslims nor Christians,” says the statement. They are satanic if they cannot find a place in the Quran or Bible where people are asked to kill others.”
