“I did it from the bottom of my heart”: Catholic Bishop in Nigeria on Building Mosque for Displaced Muslims

“With support from Missio in Germany and other organizations, we were able to construct the Salama Housing Estate for those who had nowhere else to go. We built 86 homes, now housing about 850 individuals. These included both Christians and Muslims. No one was excluded,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop explained.

Although the estate included a church, a school, and a clinic, Bishop Mamza realized the community still lacked a mosque. 

“I looked at the community and saw that while we had built a Church for the Christian residents, our Muslim brothers and sisters had no mosque. It was only fair, given that they were part of the same community, some even from the same families. I decided to build a mosque using funds from the Diocese of Yola,” the Catholic Church leader said.

The decision was met with criticism from some Christians and Muslims.

“I was persecuted. Some Christians were upset that I had built a mosque, saying it was inappropriate. But what shocked me more was that some Muslims said a Christian should not build a mosque. That hurt more than the criticism from Christians,” Bishop Mamza recalled.

More in Africa

BREAKING: Carlo Acutis to be Canonized September 7 With Pier Giorgio Frassati

Read the article

Still, Bishop Mamza stood by his decision. “I did it from the bottom of my heart, with pure intentions. The people who benefited from the gesture, the displaced, the victims of insurgency, were happy. And that’s what matters,” he said.

In 2021, the mosque was officially commissioned by the leadership of the Muslim Council in Adamawa State. 

“If the Muslim Council could accept and commission it, then it could not have been wrong for a Christian to build a mosque,” he emphasized.

Looking to the future, the Catholic Church leader expressed hope that Muslims might one day return the gesture. “I look forward to the day a Muslim will build a church for Christians. That will truly show we have embraced peaceful coexistence,” he said.

The Nigerian Bishop, who has been recognized widely for his peace initiatives in the West African nation, reflected on the challenges of peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

“Islamophobia continues to harm Muslim communities worldwide. And in many places, Christians are also targets of discrimination and persecution,” Bishop Mamza said.

He urged religious leaders to reject division, saying, “Nostra Aetate calls us to be peacemakers. The document urges us to forget past divisions and to commit to mutual understanding. It challenges us to promote justice, moral welfare, and peace for all people.”

“My commitment to interreligious dialogue is unwavering. I believe in the power of peace. I believe in the possibility of unity. And I believe that the Church has a role to play in healing Nigeria,” Bishop Mamza told ACI Africa on June 6.

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.