by Taibat Ummi Yakubu

A Muslim organisation, Qur’anic Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative, has called for divine intervention in Nigeria’s security challenges and peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections, as it brought together religious leaders from different faiths for a special prayer gathering in Katsina.

The event, held on Saturday under the theme “National Unity Gathering: Prayers for Peace, Security and Violence-Free Elections in Nigeria,” attracted Islamic clerics from different sects, Christian leaders and other stakeholders, who joined in prayers for national unity, security and peaceful coexistence.

Speaking at the gathering, the National Leader of the organisation, Sheikh Usman Dangungu, emphasised that peace was fundamental to religious practice and societal development, noting that no community could make meaningful progress in an atmosphere of violence and insecurity.

He explained that peace was a common value shared by all religions, stressing that a stable society allows people to worship freely and fulfil their religious responsibilities without fear.

Dangungu also used the occasion to call on members of the Qur’aniyyun community to remember their late leader, Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, who was recently killed by unidentified gunmen in Katsina State.

He urged them to continue praying for the deceased and seek Allah’s intervention in ensuring that those behind the killing were identified and brought to justice. However, he cautioned against retaliation or taking the law into their own hands.

On the 2027 elections, the cleric called for sustained prayers for a peaceful electoral process and urged Nigerians to support candidates who would prioritise the welfare and interests of ordinary citizens.

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Similarly, Sheikh Ibrahim Isah-Makwarari, who represented the Qadiriyya Islamic group, prayed for the repose of Masussuka’s soul and encouraged young people to promote peace in their communities rather than engage in actions capable of creating division.

He also called on security agencies and other relevant authorities to intensify investigations into the cleric’s killing and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice through lawful means.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Katsina State, Rev. Father Richard Shuaibu-Liti, also paid tribute to the late Islamic scholar, recalling his personal interactions with him and praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.

Shuaibu-Liti further sought divine intervention in Nigeria’s security situation, particularly in areas facing persistent violence, while calling for an end to corruption and other challenges undermining the country's progress.

In his contribution, Sheikh Nur Khalid, representing Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), praised Masussuka’s contributions to peacebuilding and prayed for divine intervention in Nigeria’s political, economic and social affairs.

He also called for God's guidance ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing hope that the country would experience a peaceful electoral process devoid of violence and unnecessary tensions.