Muslim leaders in Nigeria’s southeast have called for peace, unity and continued coexistence with host communities as Muslims worldwide mark the Eid Al-Adha festival.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Arewa community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, Sarkin Fulani of Awka, chairman of the Arewa Community in Anambra State and national deputy director-general of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), said the Eid celebration symbolises faith, sacrifice, tolerance and compassion.
They said Muslim and northern communities living across Anambra State and the wider southeast region were celebrating the festival peacefully alongside their host communities.
The leaders expressed appreciation to state governments, traditional rulers, security agencies and residents of the region for fostering peaceful coexistence.
“The sacred festival serves as a reminder of the values of faith, sacrifice, peace, tolerance and compassion, which remain essential for the growth and stability of society,” the statement reads.
The group urged northerners residing in the southeast to remain law-abiding and continue supporting initiatives that promote unity, development and mutual understanding.
It also cautioned politicians and public figures against using the identity of northerners in the region for political purposes, stressing that no government in Anambra State had officially registered northerners or issued identification tags to them.
According to the statement, the Arewa Community in Anambra State under Siddiki’s leadership remains the only recognised body representing northerners in the state.
The group further commended Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, other Southeast Governors and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the rights of Nigerians to live and conduct lawful business activities freely across the country.
The statement ended with prayers for lasting peace, security and prosperity in Anambra State, the southeast region and Nigeria at large, while extending Eid greetings to Muslims celebrating the festival.
