'Secure Nigeria from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings'

...NSCIA, CAN urge FG, states

THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, have expressed concern over the high level of insecurity in the country, asking the federal and state governments to rescue the people from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and ritual killings currently bedevilling Nigeria.

The Christian body also  suggested that important steps must be taken by government to re-engineer the country’s security architecture by winning the peoples' trust and confidence as well as demonstrating that no one was above the law, while the NSCIA said governments at all levels must work harder to restore security in the country.

Rising from a special extra-ordinary meeting of its Expanded General Purpose Committee, EGPC, which was presided over the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto,  Mohammed Sa'ad Abubakar 111, the group in a communique signed by Secretary-General,  Is-haq O. Oloyede, and Director of Administration,  Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, said: ''The committee condemned the negative activities of accidental Imams’ and ‘emergency Sheikhs’ who promote hatred, disunity and dissension in their mosques and on the social media. The Committee also warned Muslims to be wary of their antics as they do not represent Islam or Muslims. 

''The committee called on the federal government to make available financial empowerment opportunities in the country and thereby tackle the challenges of poverty and unemployment in the society. It also enjoined Muslims to key into the available opportunities.

''As Muslims are being profiled and killed in what appears as ethno-religious cleansing in the South East by some non-Muslims which is evident in the recent confessions by some individuals, the Committee called on security agencies to do more to protect the lives and properties of Muslims and bring the perpetrators of such killings to justice.

''The committee expressed serious concern about the general insecurity manifesting in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and ritual killings all over country. It also called on the federal and state governments to work harder on securing Nigeria from the rampaging criminals. 

''The committee appreciated General Buba Marwa for the excellent job he is doing at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and urged government at all levels to provide more equipment and morale boosting programmes to support the agency in its noble and strategic mission. It should be noted that there is high correlation between drug abuse and violent crimes, including kidnapping and banditry, being witnessed in the country. 

''Parents, Muslims in particular, should be watchful of their children, spouses and relatives. They should not hesitate or feel ashamed at any time to expose any drug abuser for timely attention.   

''The committee commended the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, the two Deputy President-Generals, the Secretary General and the Secretariat in representing and defending the interest of the Nigerian Muslim community.

''The committee received with utter shock the news of the death of some Muslim sisters who were involved in a ghastly accident in Shagamu, Ogun state, on their way to a training programme. 

''The committee commiserated with the late sisters’ families, their organisation and the Muslim ummah at large while praying that Allah admit the deceased to Aljannah Firdaos and grant the injured complete recovery. 

''The committee directed all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah for peace, security and well being of Nigeria and for the success of the 2023 elections and the population census.''

On his part, the chairman, Kaduna State chapter  of CAN, Rev. John Hayab, said in a statement:  "To secure the nation from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, ritual and other senseless killings, the government at both the federal and state levels must win the trust of the people. 

''It must do so in order for everybody to take the issue of security seriously as their own business.  The security forces alone can't win the war against insecurity; it has to be a collective effort by everybody, but the reason people appear not to be sharing credible intelligence with the authorities is the fact that they don't trust the government.

"People are seeing many things and understanding the causes of insecurity in their communities, but they are not talking because they don't have that confidence and trust to speak out.

"In the same vein, the government must also be deliberate in showing that no one is above the law. Criminals in this country believe that the law is not working. Nevertheless, if they can be made to sense that the law is active and in force, they will know that they cannot continue.

"Therefore, the government must demonstrate that this country has a law, and that it is working on everybody."

Culled from Vanguard