The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has lamented that the insecurity in Nigeria, characterized by acts of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and ethno-religious cleansing was on the rise.
It said the situation was continuously threatening peace and sustainable development in the country.
The Council revealed this on Thursday in Abuja in a communique it released after its two-day conference with the theme: Matters Arising from 2023 Elections & Associated Socio-economic Challenges.
The communique also raised alarm that there was an upsurge in the series of abductions, slavery and sale of Muslim children, especially from the north, by some unscrupulous elements, which has reached a very alarming and intolerable level.
The communique signed by Sheikh AbdurRasheed Hadiyatullah Malam Nafi’u Baba Ahmed
President Secretary General and Secretary General respectively noted that “The current economic challenges bedeviling the majority of Nigerian citizens is a cause for serious concern.”
“We urge the Federal Government to do all it takes within the ambit of the law to bring an end to the prevailing insecurity situation, through improved and effective intelligence gathering, deployment of strong offensive against all flash points of security threats, the promotion of community-oriented policing and fostering genuine trust between security forces and local communities.
“Additionally, a constitutional review is recommended to enable State Governors to perform more effectively their statutory roles as Chief Security Officers of their States.
“The conference condemned absolutely the sustained killings, maiming and attacks on innocent souls across the country. Therefore, called on the Federal Government to launch a full-scale investigation and prosecution of those arrested on all cases leading to the killings around the country especially those arrested for killing of General Alkali in Plateau state, the attack on worshippers in the Church in Jos, the killing of 11 Fulani herders arrested by the military in southern Kaduna and all others in different parts of the Country.”
The Council accused the Western powers of mounting what it described as substantial pressure on Nigeria and other African countries to accept and practice the LGBTQAI+ ideology.
“In the spirit of Islamic brotherhood enjoined by the Qur’n 39; all Muslims should uphold their unity, with love and compassion, irrespective of ethnic or other differences.
“We commend the Nigerian government for standing on the side of the values of its citizens and refusing to succumb to outside pressure. Consequently, the Government should ban the promotion of the LGBTQAI+, including all pornographic sites and other social media channels/websites promoting pervasion and social vices.
The communique said “We have also noted, with satisfaction that the Nigerian government and its citizens, representing diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, have consistently rejected this deviance, as exemplified by the enactment of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 (SSMPA).”
It noted that “There is a disturbing trend of increasing moral decadence, especially among the youth and a diminishing sense of communal responsibility amongst members of the larger Nigerian society.
“There are established principles and guidelines regulating Islamic scholarship and its practice, thereby preserving the honour and integrity of the Ulama, preventing infiltration by pseudo-Ulama and consequently lending credibility to their verdicts (fatwa).
“Some vested interest groups have launched a most divisive and sinister campaign aimed at creating rift and disharmony between Muslim ethnic groups in Nigeria, in pursuance of a destructive agenda.
On the war between Israel and Hamas which had led to the deaths of thousand on both sides, the SCSN accused United States of America and its allies of supporting Israel to perpetrate genocide against the Palestinian people, saying this contravenes international law and thus, constitutes a great threat to global peace and security.
“The Nigerian government should maintain a principled stand in condemning the ongoing Israeli genocide on Palestinians and consider severing diplomatic ties with Israel.
“By taking a strong stance against this violation of human rights, Nigeria has the opportunity to stand on the side of justice and promote a just and lasting solution to the conflict,” the communique said.
The council has therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to assure Nigerians that they have nothing to fear with the Tinubu/Shettima combination.
The communique told the president that “Your watchwords should be good governance through fair and equitable distribution of resources and ensuring that every citizen of Nigeria fears nothing about the two gentlemen coming from the same faith.
The Council called on the government to hasten the implementation of programmes that will empower communities economically and socially, addressing the underlying factors that contribute to insecurity.
“To this end, we advocate for the expansion and improvement of social safety nets, policies that stimulate and incentivize job creation, private sector growth and small business development,” the communique said.
According to the council which condemned child abduction and any form of violence against children, and particularly criminally relocating them and changing their religion and identity, which is a blatant violation of their rights, relevant law enforcement agencies should collaborate effectively in investigating these abductions, identifying and apprehending the perpetrators responsible for these criminal acts and ensuring that they face the full force of the law.
