The Committee for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Kaduna State has called on religious and community leaders to exercise restraint in their public utterances amid rising ethno-religious tensions in parts of the country.
The committee made the call under the Strengthening Women Interfaith Leadership for Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Democratic Stability project, expressing concern over what it described as a recent increase in religiously motivated friction and verbal exchanges among some faith and community leaders.
In a statement, the committee warned that the weaponisation of religious sentiments and toxic polarisation could threaten public peace, safety and social cohesion in Kaduna State and the country.
It said religion should serve as an instrument for moral guidance, healing and peaceful coexistence rather than a tool for division or political discord.
The committee also cautioned against inflammatory rhetoric and the spread of unverified information on social media, saying such narratives could exploit existing fault lines and endanger innocent citizens.
It urged religious and community leaders to prioritise messages of tolerance, understanding and mutual respect in their sermons, public statements and online engagements.
The committee further called on citizens and followers of all faiths to reject fake news, divisive narratives and online incitement capable of pitching communities against one another.
“Safeguarding human rights and transitional justice requires collective responsibility and civic maturity,” the statement said, urging citizens to draw on the teachings of their respective faiths to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive leadership across communities in Kaduna State.
The project is funded by the German Embassy and implemented by the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC).
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