A special prayer session for the sustenance of peace, progress and unity of Nigeria, was conducted on Friday in Sokoto at the Sultan Bello Juma'at Mosque.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prayer was jointly organised by Sokoto State Government and the Sultanate Council as part of activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary.

The prayer was a directive by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III to Chief Imams of Central Juma'at Mosques across Nigeria to conduct special prayer for peace, unity and progress of the country.

The directive was issued on Thursday.

The session was presided over by Sheikh Malami Akwara the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Juma'at Mosque.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Secretary to Sokoto State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, top government officials and Muslim clerics were in attendance.

Garba told NAN that similar prayer would be organised in Churches across the state on Sunday.

He said, “Nigerians must learn to live in harmony with each other irrespective of religious, ethnic or political differences.

“God has in His infinite mercy and wisdom created us with us diverse backgrounds to serve as a uniting factor of the nation and not to divide us.”

The SSG appealed to Nigerians to eschew inter-ethnic, inter-tribal and inter-religious attacks and conflicts, saying that is the only way the country could move forward. (NAN)

•Photo shows Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III

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