Nigerian Islamic Council Decries Borno School Kidnap, Demands Firm Response

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has strongly condemned a recent terrorist attack on a secondary school in Borno State, which resulted in the murder of a teacher and the abduction of numerous students. The council described the incident as a grave existential threat to Nigeria and a despicable crime against humanity.

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The council is greatly concerned that this latest attack comes a few weeks after the May 15 abduction of 42 pupils of Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the same Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State and the kidnapping of 49 pupils and their teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on the same day, all of whom remain in captivity.

In a statement released by its spokesman, Abbas Jimoh, the NSCIA highlighted its outrage, particularly noting that this attack follows closely on the heels of other abductions in Borno and Oyo states. The council expressed deep concern that terrorists exploited the local market day to infiltrate Lassa Town, demonstrating their adaptability and exploitation of security vulnerabilities.

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The Council is particularly disturbed that the terrorists exploited the Lassa Town’s market day to infiltrate the community before launching their assault. This demonstrates that terrorists continue to adapt their methods and exploit security gaps.

The apex Muslim body urged for enhanced intelligence gathering, surveillance, inter-agency cooperation, and community-based early warning systems. It also applauded the armed forces, especially troops of Operation Hadin Kai, for their swift response and the rescue of some abducted individuals. However, the NSCIA stressed that operations must continue until all abducted children and staff are safely returned.

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The Council applauded the professionalism, sacrifice and gallantry of the Armed Forces, especially the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, whose swift deployment of ground and air assets resulted in the rescue of some of the abducted Bornu students and teachers.

Furthermore, the Council reiterated that terrorism has no place in Islam, denouncing Boko Haram and ISWAP as enemies of the faith and humanity. They emphasized that the actions of these groups contradict Islamic teachings on the sanctity of life, justice, mercy, and the pursuit of knowledge.

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Terrorism has no place in Islam, deriding Boko Haram and ISWAP as enemies of Islam and humanity whose actions are at variance with the Qur’anic injunctions on the sanctity of human life, justice, mercy, and the pursuit of knowledge.