Christmas celebrations were held peacefully across Nigeria yesterday as families and worshippers, in major cities and remote communities, gathered in churches, homes and public spaces without reports of disruptions.

Security agencies had deployed personnel and patrol teams to key locations across the country to maintain law and order during the festive season.

In years past, festive seasons in Nigeria had been shadowed by fears of security breaches as incidents of violence and attacks on worship centres often fuelled anxiety during major celebrations.

Plateau, Benue

In Plateau State, Christians celebrated the festivity peacefully without any hindrance. Our correspondent observed that security personnel were going round Jos, the state capital and other areas to ensure hitch-free celebrations.

Doyin Adebayo, a resident of Bukuru community of Jos South Local Government Area, said: “We celebrated it quietly. We cooked, ate, drank and slept. We thanked God that we celebrated in peace. It was okay even though we don’t have money.

Josep Adudu, another resident, said the Christmas was peaceful. “I went out to see the town even though there are no big celebrations. We thank God that we witnessed in good health.”

Similarly, residents of Makurdi, Benue State Capital, celebrated peacefully amid visible security patrol to maintain law and order.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Ifeanyi Enemari, had earlier said the command had put in place a robust security measure to ensure smooth and rancour free Christmas celebrations.

Eateries and drinking joints made brisk businesses as they attended to huge numbers of fun seekers in their separate locations.

A resident, Cyprian Okeke, said the drop in cost of food items made the celebration great for his family.

“It’s really fun for my family this year,” Okeke said.

Another resident, Grace Peter, said: “Last year, I was unable to reach out to some people but this Christmas I visited and shared the moment with others. So, I’m very happy.”

Muslims join Christians at Christmas service in Kaduna

Residents of Kaduna State celebrated Christmas peacefully across various neighbourhoods, as many Christians went about their normal activities, visiting loved ones in the spirit of the season.

This is even as many Muslims from across Northern Nigeria joined Christians at the Christmas service of the Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry in Kaduna in a show of interfaith unity.

The General Overseer, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said the annual event had become a tradition, attracting Muslims from all the 19 northern states.

According to him, Muslims from various sects, including Tijjaniyya, Shi’ite and Sunni, attended to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ to promote peace and mutual understanding.

“This is the 15th time Muslims and Christians are gathering for this historic event to strengthen unity,” Buru said, adding that the Muslim delegations also presented gifts to the church.

He noted that the celebration came amid economic hardship and insecurity, stressing the need for interfaith cooperation and prayers for national stability.

An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Salihu Mai-Barota, said Muslims attended the service to promote peace and tolerance, urging youths to shun violence and fake news.

Similarly, Imam Ibrahim Musa congratulated Christians and said Muslims and Christians regularly celebrated religious events together to foster mutual respect.

Buru was recognised as a recipient of the 2022 United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week Award for his peace building efforts.

It was observed that as early as 8:00 a.m., adults, women and children were seen dressed in new clothes on their way to churches for morning services.

Speaking on the celebration, Chief Idibia Gabriel, a Kaduna resident, described the Christmas festivities as peaceful, calm and cool, noting that residents carried out their activities without any challenges.

According to him, he went to bed late on Christmas Eve due to celebrations in his neighbourhood.

“The Christmas was peaceful, calm, and cool, even though most people could not move around due to lack of money. But I can say the celebration was peaceful, and we thanked God for that,” he said.

“Yes, despite the hardship, people still travelled home because Christmas is an annual event, and some people prefer to go back to the village to celebrate with loved ones,” he added.

Another resident, Shola Ojo, said they attended church services without fear.

“We are happy to have celebrated Christmas peacefully in this part of the world without any fear. This Christmas is even better than the previous year,” he said.

Niger, Kogi, Kwara

In Niger State, the Christmas celebration was peaceful and lively.

The Director, Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Catholic Diocese of Minna, Rev Fr. Bahago Dauda Musa described this year’s Christmas as peaceful.

Similarly, Mrs Juliana Gana, a resident, praised God for making it possible for her and the family to witness this Christmas.

Christians in Kogi State also celebrated this year’s Christmas peacefully despite the rising activities of bandits in the state. Residents attended church service with

Pastor Joel of Pentecostal Church in Lokoja, said: “People were scared because of the security report of planned attack at places of worship. I was surprised seeing people trooping to the church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a signal to us from God that everything is under control in Kogi.”

Christian faithful gathered in churches across Ilorin and other parts of Kwara state for peaceful celebrations.

The state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Sunday Adewole, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally seek God’s guidance in addressing the country’s challenges and cautioned him against “sycophants within government circles.”

Lagos, Ogun

In Lagos, it was a moment of reunion yesterday as some families, friends and relatives united together in frenzy fashion to celebrate Christmas.

Daily Trust observed they had special relaxation at beaches, fun parks and eateries, relieving themselves of the daily routine of work activities.

A resident, Abiodun Adu, said: “My Christmas day started quite slowly but ended up being a beautiful one. I joined a family reunion on the Island, Ajah precisely, and then we ended up all going to the beach. We were at the Barracuda beach.”

Jide Adeosin described the day as a ‘non-laptop’ engagement, rather it was a period to strengthen bonds within his family and friends.

In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Christians celebrated Christmas in a peaceful atmosphere, even as many residents expressed concern that economic hardship and the high cost of living affected their plans for the festive season.

Our reporter, who visited major recreational and entertainment centres across Abeokuta, including Olumo Rock, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and several restaurants, observed that the places were populated by fun-seekers.

Bayelsa, Rivers

Residents of Bayelsa and Rivers states yesterday thronged amusement parks and eateries in the states capitals and other cities in the state for fun and sharing with love ones.

Daily Trust observed that in the two states, the celebrations were peaceful as security operatives provided protection in most of the areas of attractions.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Capital, the revamped Peace Park in Ovom was the rallying points for many celebrants who engaged in boat cruise, while children were seen play at the crèche section.

A mother, Mrs Egina Perple, who took her children to the Port Amusement Park, said she had “to spice the celebration with the outing for the children so that they will enjoy the holiday maximally.”

Also, Mr Reginal Embiowei, who was at the Yenagoa Peace Park with friends, said it was part of the celebration as he might not have much time to visit the park on work day.s

‘How we marked Christmas in Muslim-dominated communities’

In northern Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Kano, Christmas is marked not by loud street carnivals but by quiet celebrations rooted in peace, tolerance and neighbourly coexistence.

For Christians living in these states, the season is defined less by spectacle and more by the freedom to worship. While the cities remained largely calm, residents said the absence of flamboyance had not diminished the joy or essence of the season.

Long-time residents spoke of cordial relationships, shared meals and mutual visits during festivities, with Muslim neighbours often joining in goodwill gestures. Church leaders said such harmony reflected deep-rooted unity and shared daily life.

Sokoto

In Sokoto, a city widely known as the seat of the Caliphate and a predominantly Muslim state, Christmas comes not with loud street carnivals or overwhelming festive spectacle, but with calm, reflective joy shared quietly among families, friends and neighbours.

For many Christians who have made Sokoto their home, the season is less about flamboyance and more about peaceful coexistence — a reality they say has defined their experience over the years.

“We thank God that Christmas has come and we are celebrating it peacefully,” said Adeniyi, a resident who has lived in the state for several years.

According to him, Sokoto has proven to be home to people of different backgrounds.

“From my own experience, Sokoto has been a home to everybody. We Christians feel happy to stay back and celebrate Christmas here.”

Unlike in Christian-dominated states, where the festive atmosphere often fills the streets, Christmas in Sokoto is largely quiet. Yet, residents said this has not diminished the essence of the celebration.

“There is no restriction. There are places you can go with your family. You can visit Devkem or Happy Island. You can also take visitors to the Sultan’s Palace or the Usmanu Danfodiyo University for sightseeing,” Adeniyi said.

Another resident, Naomi, described the season as quiet but meaningful. “You don’t really see the euphoria or festive aura you find in other Christian-dominated states.

“But nobody is stopping anyone from celebrating. You go to the market, buy what you want, and celebrate in your own way,” she said.

She noted that the spirit of Christmas in Sokoto is often expressed through shared meals and neighbourly bonds.

“Many of us have Muslim friends. We take food to them, and some of their children come to our homes. I particularly enjoy the day because I’m not going to work,” she added.

While most parts of the city remained calm, Naomi observed that some neighbourhoods with higher concentrations of Christian residents showed more visible signs of celebration.

“In places like Old Airport, you hear children throwing knockouts and moving around in new clothes, visiting friends’ houses. You know something is happening there. But in other areas, it feels like an ordinary day,” she added.

Some parents take their children to leisure spots, although residents said the turnout is usually low.

“Even when you go to amusement parks, you don’t really get the full services. The population is not enough to make it commercial, so it feels like a normal outing with your children rather than a big celebration,” she said.

Despite the low-key nature of the festivities, security remains a priority.

Ankali Emmanuel, another Christian resident, confirmed that churches across the state held their Christmas services peacefully.

“We are celebrating Christmas peacefully with a lot of fun. Sokoto is a nice place. All the churches had their services, and enough security was deployed to ensure safety,” he said

For many Christians in Sokoto, the season underscores a deeper message — that of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. While the city may not glow with Christmas lights or echo with carols on every street, the calm acceptance and freedom to worship, residents say, are celebrations in themselves.

Zamfara

In Zamfara State, the celebration was peaceful and quiet. Mrs Grace Nwakwe, a long-time resident of the Tudun Wada area of Gusau, said she has spent over three decades celebrating the season peacefully within a Muslim community.

According to her, relationships between Christians and Muslims in Zamfara are cordial, built on mutual respect, friendship and shared daily experiences.

She said her children were born and raised in Gusau and grew up schooling and playing with Muslim children.

“We celebrate very well. No disturbance. For over 30 years, nothing has happened,” she said.

The president of the Zamfara State Non-Indigene Association, Joel Thomas, said Christians have celebrated Christmas in Muslim communities for more than two decades without incident. He said Muslims regularly join Christians in church celebrations, sharing meals and fellowship.

“We celebrate, eat and play together. It shows unity and brotherhood,” he said, adding that Christian leaders continually urge peaceful coexistence and interaction with people of other faiths.

Another resident, Christ Omolowa, described Christian-Muslim relations in the state as one of “oneness”, despite differences in faith. “Jesus Christ taught us to love everyone,” he said, noting that food is often shared with Muslim neighbours, whether or not they partake.

For Friday Olonya, an Igbo man born and raised in Gusau, interfaith harmony is a lived reality. “My friends are Hausa Muslims. We went to school together and celebrate Christmas and Sallah together,” he said. He added that while he visits Muslim friends during Sallah, they in turn visit him during Christmas.

The Zamfara State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Evangelist Machel Taju Afolabi, said Christians and Muslims in the state relate as close friends. He noted that Muslims often attend Christian services, show sympathy during difficult times, and protect churches within their communities.

“This church is surrounded by mosques and Islamic schools, yet we live peacefully,” he said, adding that Muslims in his neighbourhood showed him exceptional kindness when he recently relocated there.

He called on Christians to pray for good leadership and an end to insecurity, stressing that the current situation in the state demands more prayers than celebration.

A journalist, Keepers Dogon Yaro, who has lived in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states for over 40 years, described Christmas celebrations in the region as consistently peaceful. He said Christians and Muslims freely attend one another’s festivals, sharing food and goodwill in an atmosphere of unity.

Zamfara also has indigenous Hausa Christians, including those in Gidan Zallah village of Bungudu Local Government Area, who continue to celebrate Christmas peacefully among surrounding Muslim communities—further affirming that faith diversity in the state remains a bridge, not a barrier.

Kano

In Sabon Gari, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, many Christian residents observed Christmas with a deep sense of family and spirituality rather than flamboyance.

Emmanuel Okorie, a civil servant who has lived in Sabon Gari for over 15 years, said the essence of Christmas for him remains unchanged. “We celebrate Christmas with prayers, church service and family meals. The environment does not stop us from celebrating; it only makes us more conscious of how we do it,” he said.

Like Emmanuel, most Christian families in Sabon Gari began Christmas Day in church. From early morning, worshippers filed into churches scattered across the area for thanksgiving services marked by hymns, sermons and prayers for peace.

After church, celebrations moved into homes where families shared meals and spent time together.

Grace Pam, a trader at the Sabon Gari market, described Christmas Day as “simple but fulfilling.” She said, “We go to church in the morning, come back home, cook special food like rice, chicken or stew, and invite friends and relatives. Sometimes we visit one another, but mostly we stay indoors.”

Many residents said they consciously keep festivities modest, avoiding loud music or street parties. “We understand where we live. So, we adjust by keeping our celebrations within our homes and churches. It is about mutual respect,” said Mr. Samuel Audu, a private school teacher.

These adjustments, however, do not diminish the joy of the season. Instead, they foster a sense of shared responsibility and understanding.

“It has become natural for us. Just as we respect our Muslim neighbours during Ramadan or prayer times, they also respect us during Christmas,” Samuel said.

Many Christian residents spoke warmly about the attitude of their Muslim neighbours. Elizabeth John, who runs a small grocery, said gestures of goodwill are common during the festive period.

A few residents mentioned occasional restrictions on noise or public gatherings, but none described these as oppressive. “There are times you may feel limited, especially if you are used to big celebrations. But over time, you understand that peace is more important than noise,” said Peter Luka.

For many, acts of tolerance and kindness, especially from neighbours and local leaders, reinforce a sense of belonging. “When something happens in the community, we come together regardless of religion,” Elizabeth recalls. “That spirit is strong during Christmas.”

Muslim clerics host us during Christmas – Kano Christian leaders

Christian leaders in Kano State urged both Christians and Muslims to continue embracing one another during festive seasons,

Speaking during Christmas activities in Kano, Reverend Zephaniah Isah, said: “During Christmas, we celebrate together and eat together. In some cases, Muslim clerics even host us.”

He said there should be no fear in sharing meals with trusted neighbours. According to him, if people freely eat food prepared in public places, they should feel comfortable sharing with those they know and live with.

Bishop Ransom Bello described Christmas as a season of love, sharing and practical goodwill, regardless of religious differences.

He said the essence of Christmas goes beyond faith boundaries, noting that love has no religious colouration. (Daily Trust)