As heated religious exchanges intensify on social media, the Northern Christian Association is raising concerns about the broader implications for peaceful coexistence across Nigeria’s diverse communities.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, the association’s chairman, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, warned that escalating online confrontations between religious groups could spill beyond digital spaces and deepen existing divisions if not urgently addressed.
He urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to exercise restraint in their online engagements, noting that many debates framed as defence of faith have increasingly turned hostile, with insults and provocations replacing meaningful dialogue.
According to him, such patterns risk undermining social harmony in a country already navigating complex religious sensitivities. He emphasised that responding aggressively to perceived provocation could inflame tensions rather than resolve differences.
The cleric advised youths and religious leaders to adopt a more measured approach, encouraging messages that promote unity and mutual respect instead of arguments that may escalate into wider conflict, stressing that the responsibility for maintaining peace rests on both individuals and institutions.
