by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Religious leaders in Nigeria have embarked on a three-day fasting and prayers session in response to insufficient rainfall affecting farming communities across the northern region.
Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry in Kaduna State, is in the forefront, as he has mobilized over 100 Muslim and Christian clerics to pray for rainfall.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 12th July 2025, and made available to newsmen after visiting several Muslim and Christian scholars in Kaduna and consulting neighboring states, Pastor Buru emphasized the urgent need for divine intervention due to the prolonged dry spell.
“For almost 3 weeks there is no water, and our land are getting dry due to climate change. We have mobilized faith-based leaders to offer special prayers across the North for rain fall,” he decried.
He explained that the initiative was driven by numerous complaints from rural farmers experiencing severe drought in the midst of July, saying, “Many of our members, who are mostly rural poor farmers, have reported crop failure due to the lack of rainfall.”
He said it, therefore, became necessary to unite Muslim and Christian clerics “in ceaseless prayers and fasting, asking, Almighty God to bless us with rain and save our crops.”
Pastor Buru called on Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other religious organizations across the north to utilize their places of worship to pray for rainfall.
He stressed that climate change has significantly disrupted the farming season, highlighting the need to return to God in prayer for the solution.
He also appealed to both state and federal governments to support local farmers with fertilizers and other resources to boost crop production.
“The high cost of foodstuffs is a serious threat to peace and stability in the region, which is why special prayers for rainfall are so important,” he added.
In a related development, the Murshid of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Imam Husaine Ilyasu, announced a prayer gathering, held same-day in school at Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State for the rainfall.
He stated that Imams across Kaduna and other northern regions would participate in the three-day prayer session in their various mosques, seeking God to bring rainfall. “God listens to our prayers,” Imam Husaine said.
“We are calling on all faith-based leaders to commence ceaseless prayers so that God may bring rainfall to rescue our dying farms and crops.”
He also acknowledged the efforts of state and federal governments in improving security in the region, and called for special prayers for the Nigerian military and paramilitary forces in appreciation of their dedication and sacrifice in safeguarding the nation.