Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called for peace and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims, condemning both blasphemy and lawlessness.
In a statement shared via Facebook on Tuesday, Gumi described both acts as irresponsible and contrary to religious teachings.
He stressed that Islam promotes order and respect, adding that no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands.
He also urged non-Muslims to respect values considered sacred by Muslims and avoid actions that could be seen as desecration.
Gumi warned that foreign interests may be seeking to incite religious conflict in Nigeria but expressed confidence that most Nigerians would not engage in violence.
He added that anyone who breaks the law would be held accountable for their actions.
Gumi said: “A call to peace for every Christian and Muslim. Blasphemy and lawlessness are both irresponsible and antithetical to all religions.
“Islam, in particular, is a religion of order and respect. Nobody is allowed to take the law into their hands. We also hope non-Muslims will respect what Muslims hold sacred and desist from desecrating those values.
“As a nation, we should know there are foreign interests eager to see the country ignite into useless religious wars. Nonetheless, we should not be deceived, as the majority of Nigerians are not going to fight each other. Any lawbreaker will have nobody to blame but himself.”
