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The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has condemned the reported description of Christians as "Arna" by prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, warning that such remarks could inflame religious tensions and undermine peaceful coexistence in the country.
In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Isaac Abrak, the group described the alleged comments as unfortunate and unbecoming of a respected religious leader, saying they had the potential to reopen old religious divisions in Northern Nigeria.
The organisation said referring to Christians as "Arna," a Hausa term commonly interpreted as "infidel" or "unbeliever," was both inaccurate and offensive to millions of Christians across the country.
According to the NCYP, Christians are believers in Jesus Christ and should not be described in a manner that questions or diminishes their faith.
The group urged Sheikh Jingir to exercise greater restraint in his public utterances, noting that influential religious leaders have a responsibility to promote unity rather than deepen divisions.
It warned that inflammatory religious statements could create an atmosphere that extremist groups and criminal elements might exploit to recruit followers, fuel radicalisation and trigger violence.
The NCYP said its intervention was intended to prevent a recurrence of the religious crises that have claimed thousands of lives and destroyed communities across Northern Nigeria over the years.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts to rebuild trust between Christians and Muslims, the group cautioned that such progress could easily be reversed by divisive rhetoric portraying adherents of other faiths as enemies.
The organisation therefore called on moderate Muslim leaders, Islamic scholars and other respected clerics to publicly reject statements capable of threatening peaceful coexistence.
It also urged security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure that public figures whose comments could incite religious tension are held accountable in accordance with the law.
The NCYP further rejected attempts to portray the 2023 Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as a religious project.
The group disclosed that it supported the Tinubu-Shettima ticket during the 2023 presidential election, stressing that its decision was based on leadership qualities, policy direction and what it considered the national interest rather than religious considerations.
According to the organisation, the APC's decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket was a political strategy that was ultimately accepted by Nigerian voters through the democratic process.
It therefore urged Nigerians to judge the Tinubu administration by its performance in office rather than through the lens of religious identity.
The NCYP also advised against using unverified claims about the country's religious demographics for political mobilisation, insisting that only a credible national census could accurately determine the population of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
The group maintained that what should matter most is the protection of the rights, lives and dignity of every Nigerian, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
It further warned that terrorism, banditry and other security challenges already confronting Northern Nigeria make religious division even more dangerous.
According to the NCYP, defeating insecurity requires not only military operations but also sustained efforts to promote national unity and prevent extremist narratives from gaining ground.
The organisation appealed to religious leaders, politicians, traditional rulers and other influential Nigerians to avoid inflammatory rhetoric capable of endangering the fragile peace being rebuilt across communities.
"The North has suffered enough," the group said, urging all stakeholders to prioritise dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence over divisive statements that could trigger another cycle of violence.
