A Nigerian Muslim woman's kindness will help more than 50 Christian widows enjoy Christmas this year.

In a show of inspirational cross-faith generosity, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani donated bags of rice to the families and widows of men who had died at a church in the north western state of Kaduna.

The region has been subject to many attacks, primarily from Islamist Fulani herdsman on Christian communities.

But Tijjiani said her offering was part of efforts to strengthen peaceful relations between the two groups.

She gave the food to vulnerable families at the Christ Evangelical Ministry, Sabon Tasha, according to Pulse.

Tijjani said the gift was inspired by Pastor Yohanna Buru, leader of Christ Evangelical Church Ministry, for consistently giving out food and water to refugees and prison inmates during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in recent years.

Buru would cook food and hand out drinks to the poor while his Muslim neighbours fasted, said Tijjani.

She said Buru's attitude prompted her to start her own initiative in response.

Northern Nigeria has been struck by repeated conflicts between Muslim and Christians as Boko Haram's insurgency was forced into retreat by the Nigerian army. The ISIS-linked terror group has continued to sporadically target villages and market places with suicide attacks.

More than 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by the militant group and forced into sexual slavery or trained to become bombers.

Many have now been freed but face shame or stigma as "Boko Haram wives" if they return to their own towns.

"We would prefer that they are taken away from the community and this country because the stigmatization is going to affect them for the rest of their lives," said the chairman of the Chibok Development Association Pogu Bitrus.

"Even someone believed to have been abused by Boko Haram would be seen in a bad light."