Christianity Today

Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, the sultan of Sokoto and the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims, also decried the use of religion as a tool for violence. "No religion will support violence, harassment, victimisation and all vices, let alone murdering of innocent people," the sultan said. "No religion will encourage segregation, discrimination and suppression."

Dr Mbang and Sultan Maccido are co-chairpersons of Nigeria's Inter-Religious Council, a committee set up by the federal government to work towards religious harmony.

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

Related Elsewhere

Obasanjo admits 'enormous' problems — BBC (Oct. 1)

Tension-Soaked Nation — Newswatch, Lagos (Sept. 30)

Govt Bans Road Blocks, Loud Speakers At Worships — Vanguard, Lagos (Sept. 27)

Jos Crisis: Airforce Commandant Refutes Allegation of Partisanship — The Daily Press, Abuja (Sept. 26)

Mayhem in Tin City — Newswatch, Lagos (Sept. 23)

The Mayhem in Jos — This Day, Lagos (Sept. 19)

Jos: Its Underbelly And the Carnage — The Guardian, Lagos (Sept. 14)

Renewed fighting in Jos — BBC (Sept. 12)

Nigerian troops curb religious violence — BBC (Sept. 8)

For more articles, see Yahoo's full coverage on Nigeria and AllAfrica.com.

Previous Christianity Today coverage of religious tensions in Nigeria includes:

Orphaned and Widowed | Christian families devastated since Shari'ah law adopted. (August 29, 2001)

Christians and Muslims at Odds Over Nigerian Constitution | Calls made to limit Shari'ah law in Northern states. (July 12, 2001)

Nigeria Officials Press Northern Governors to Scale Back Islamic Law | Churches harassed by Islamic youths purporting to enforce the law. (June 14, 2001)

Five Anglicans in Court After Rescuing Teenagers From Arranged Marriages | Priests claim Christian sisters are being forced into Islam. (June 5, 2001)

The Shari'ah Threat | Muslim Fundamentalist law troubles Christians and some Muslims. (Feb. 2, 2001)

'Focused, Determined, Deliberate' Destruction | Ecumenical leader calls on Nigeria to deal with religious violence between Muslims and Christians. (Oct. 30, 2000)

Nigerian Muslims and Christians Form a Religious Council | Gombe, a north Nigerian state, creates a council of faiths to deal with fears over Islamic law. (Sept. 19, 2000)

Churches Challenge Islamic Law | Christians plan to take Shari'ah to court. (Aug. 15, 2000)

Is Nigeria Moving Toward War? | Deadly riots lead to suspension of Islamic law. (March 31, 2000)

Nigeria On the Brink of Religious War | Northern states adopt Islamic law, increasing Christian-Muslim tensions. (Dec. 16, 1999)

Nigeria's Churches Considering Legal Challenge to Islamic Laws | Third state moving toward implementing Koranic laws (Dec. 17, 1999)

Can Christianity and Islam Coexist and Prosper in Africa? Twice in a decade religious fighting killed hundreds in West Africa's oldest city. (Oct. 25, 1999)

Nigeria's Christian President Calls for 'Moral Rearmament' Constitution rewritten to pledge freedom of belief is absolute. (April 26, 1999)