The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has condemned the alleged description of Christians as “Arna” by prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, warning that inflammatory religious rhetoric could reopen old wounds and create opportunities for extremists and criminal elements to exploit religious divisions.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Isaac Abrak, the group described the alleged remarks as “deeply unfortunate and in bad taste,” stressing that Jingir’s stature and influence as a religious leader demanded greater restraint and responsibility.
NCYP said describing Christians as “Arna” — a Hausa term commonly used to denote an infidel or unbeliever — was inaccurate and amounted to denigrating the Christian faith and the identity of millions of Nigerians.
“Christians are faithful believers in Jesus Christ, whom we worship as the Son of the Almighty God. We are not ‘infidels’ or people without faith,” the organisation said.
The group urged Jingir to exercise greater wisdom and caution in his public utterances, particularly given the history of religious and communal violence in Northern Nigeria.
It warned that inflammatory statements, religious suspicion and the demonisation of people of another faith could create an atmosphere that extremist and criminal groups might exploit to radicalise vulnerable citizens, recruit followers and fuel violence.
“History has shown that inflammatory statements, religious suspicion, bitterness and the demonisation of people of another faith can create an atmosphere that extremist and criminal elements may subsequently exploit to manipulate vulnerable citizens, deepen radicalisation, recruit followers and fuel violence,” NCYP said.
The organisation said its intervention was intended to prevent tensions from escalating into another crisis.
“This is why NCYP is sounding the alarm now — before another crisis occurs,” it stated.
According to the group, Northern Nigeria has endured years of devastating violence that fractured communities, while considerable efforts are being made to rebuild trust and strengthen peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims.
It cautioned that such progress should not be undermined by rhetoric portraying fellow Nigerians as religious outsiders or enemies.
NCYP consequently appealed to moderate Muslims, Islamic scholars and other responsible religious leaders to publicly reject statements capable of inflaming religious sentiments and threatening peaceful coexistence.
It also called on relevant authorities to ensure that public figures whose utterances could heighten religious tensions are held accountable within the law.
Tinubu-Shettima Ticket
The group also rejected attempts to portray the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as a religious project.
NCYP said it supported and campaigned for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket during the 2023 presidential election, but maintained that its support was based on political considerations, leadership, policy direction and its assessment of the national interest.
It said it never regarded the ticket as either a Christian or Muslim project.
According to the organisation, the decision by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket was a political strategy aimed at winning the election, which Nigerians were ultimately free to accept or reject through the democratic process.
“The Tinubu-Shettima ticket should be judged by its governance and performance, not through the prism of religious arithmetic,” NCYP said.
It therefore urged Nigerians to stop continually framing the ticket as a religious agenda or using it to reopen historical religious divisions.
‘Await Credible Census’
On competing claims over Nigeria’s religious demographics, NCYP called for restraint, warning against turning population figures into instruments of political mobilisation or sectarian rivalry.
The group said only a credible national census could provide authoritative data on the country’s population composition and urged Nigerians to await reliable figures rather than engage in disputes over whether Christians or Muslims constitute the majority.
“What should matter to Nigerians is not which faith has more followers, but whether the government protects the lives, rights and dignity of every Nigerian, regardless of religion or ethnicity,” it said.
NCYP further warned that the worsening security situation across Northern Nigeria made religious division particularly dangerous.
It noted that terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes had caused massive loss of lives, displacement, destruction of livelihoods and economic hardship, with the effects increasingly extending beyond the region.
The organisation argued that defeating insecurity required more than military operations, insisting that winning the “hearts and minds” of Nigerians was equally critical.
“We cannot defeat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes while allowing the religious and social divisions that extremists and criminal elements can exploit to grow unchecked,” NCYP said.
The group urged Muslim and Christian leaders, politicians, traditional rulers and other influential Nigerians to reject inflammatory rhetoric and work to strengthen peaceful coexistence.
“The North has suffered enough,” NCYP declared, warning that divisive rhetoric must be confronted before it develops into another crisis and destroys the fragile peace being rebuilt across communities.
