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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Nigerian Islamic Council cautions against unwarranted attacks, provocation of Muslims

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has warned against unwarranted provocation and attacks targeting Muslims in Nigeria.
  • The council cited accusations of Muslims being responsible for most crimes and marginalization in public spaces as examples of baseless profiling.
  • NSCIA urged government and security agencies to address these issues to prevent potential retaliatory actions and maintain national security.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has issued a strong warning against the unwarranted provocation, assault, and baseless profiling of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria. The council emphasized that its commitment to peace and national unity should not be mistaken for weakness.

Some bizarre statements that 90-95 per cent of criminals are Muslims by an extremist former Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President on the promptings of a news anchor during a recent Channels Television programme that looked more like a well-rehearsed drama than an interview is one of such reckless, baseless and irresponsible statements that a government conscious of responsibility to all should have acted upon.

— NSCIACriticizing specific accusations made against Muslims.

In a statement released by its spokesman, Abbas Jimoh, the NSCIA highlighted instances of what it termed "bizarre statements" made by individuals, including an extremist former Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president. These statements, allegedly made during a Channels Television program, accused Muslims of being responsible for 90-95% of criminals. The NSCIA criticized such claims as reckless and irresponsible, suggesting that government regulatory agencies should have acted upon them to maintain peace and national security.

The council also decried the alleged marginalization of Muslims from public spaces and power. It pointed to recent ministerial appointments, noting that despite all ministers from southern Nigeria being non-Muslims, replacements for those who resigned or were removed were also non-Muslims. The NSCIA contrasted this with past presidential attempts where Christian vice-presidential candidates were chosen, and no Muslim leader accused them of "Christian-Christian tickets," a term the council claims is used to deny Muslims their rightful entitlements.

This ought to have attracted at least a reprimand from responsible government regulatory agencies, in the safety of peace and national security.

— NSCIAExpressing disappointment with the lack of official response to provocative statements.

Furthermore, the NSCIA criticized some Christian leaders for allegedly blaming the Fulani, which the council views as a euphemism for Muslims, for recent kidnappings in Oyo State. The council stated that arrests made in Ibadan suggested otherwise. The NSCIA urged the government and security agencies to take necessary actions before Muslims' endurance runs out, implying a potential for unrest if the situation is not addressed.

When General Yakubu Gowon made Chief Obafemi Awolowo the Federal Commissioner for Finance and the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council, no one raised a noise on the Christian-Christian bearings.

— NSCIAHighlighting historical precedents to counter accusations of religious bias in appointments.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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