The Church of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, has distributed bags of rice, maize and other food items to Muslims, Tsangaya Islamic schools and some internally displaced persons (IDPs) ahead of the Ramadan fast.
The General Overseer of the church, Yohanna Buru, who led the distribution at the Kano Road Central Mosque in Kaduna said the gesture was aimed at promoting peace and strengthening interfaith harmony in the state.
Buru said the church had, for the past 20 years, supported underprivileged Muslims and Tsangaya schools across five northern states with food items to enable them observe the 30-day Ramadan fasting with ease.
He said besides rice and maize, the church also provides prayer mats and plastic kettles annually, urging beneficiaries to use the period to pray for peace, stability and an end to insecurity and economic hardship in the country.
“As prices of goods continue to rise, we mobilised about 50 volunteer pastors and imams for a seven-day sensitisation campaign to encourage traders to reduce the cost of food items during Ramadan,” he said.
He added that the church also facilitates the release of some Muslim inmates annually to enable them observe the Ramadan fast with their families.
Buru acknowledged the support of a Muslim philanthropist, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, who donates to widows and orphans during Christmas and New Year celebrations, describing the gesture as a reflection of mutual respect among faiths.
He wished Muslims a peaceful Ramadan and called for prayers for unity in the country..
In his remarks, the leader of the Association of Persons with Disabilities in Kaduna State, Mallam Hassan Lawal, commended the church for the support, urging wealthy Muslims to assist the less privileged during the fasting period.
Similarly, the state leader of the Visually Impaired Association, Mallam Tukur Zubairu, said the church had consistently supported them with food grains over the years, praying God to reward the organisers.
Speaking on behalf of Tsangaya schools, Imam Ibrahim Musa thanked the church for the intervention and called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture.
Also commenting, the Murshid of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Imam Ilyasu, described the initiative as commendable and urged wealthy Muslims to fulfil their obligation of giving zakat to the poor, especially during Ramadan.
