Religious leaders, have called on Christian and Muslim faithful, to come together to check the threat posed to national unity by the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking to newsmen after an inter-religious stakeholders meeting in Lagos, the clerics said that the radical sect was bent on dividing the country along religious lines.

They, therefore, urged that the goal of Boko Haram could be defeated only through peaceful co-existence.

The meeting, which also had in attendance Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, was held to foster religious harmony in the state.

National Imam, Ansar-Ul-Deen Society of Nigeria, Imam Abdul Rahman Ahmad described Boko Haram as a common enemy of both religions, adding that its ideology was anti-Islam.

He urged Muslims and Christians to shun the sentiments being promoted by the sect, warning that the bombings of worship places by the group should not be allowed to provoke a religious war.

“There is no problem between Muslims and Christians. The security situation in this country is not a religious issue and it is not a matter for any religious war.

“ It is just some evil people trying to hide under religion and as religious people, we should resolve to defeat the evil and the evil doers,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Prelate Ola Makinde of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, reiterated the call for religious harmony, urging all Nigerians to help in confronting the security challenges by helping government to track down members of the sect.

He also called on Nigerians to love one another, saying that it was difficult for evil to prevail in an atmosphere of love.

“There is so much insecurity in the country and we do not want anybody to put religious sentiments into the issue.

“We are, therefore, appealing to both Christians and Muslims to come together and be security-conscious.

“When you suspect any unusual movement or people of questionable character, please endeavour to report such to either your pastor or the nearest police station.

“We should also consider the dialogue option in this situation because it is better to embrace dialogue than to engage ourselves in war. We do not want any civil war in this country again,’’ he said.

Another cleric, Rev. Josiah Udofia, called on Nigerians to learn to forgive one another, stressing that forgiveness could go a long way in helping the nation at this time of need.

Fashola called for vigilance and religious tolerance, saying that this would provide the nation with the strength to overwhelm its present security challenges.

NAN reports that the Boko Haram sect has claimed responsibility for a number of bombings in the country.