* Dismisses attempts to link Oyo kidnapping to Muslims, Fulani people
* Demands justice for Islamic teacher, MACBAN chairman murdered in Kaduna, Benue
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under the leadership of its President General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to protect Muslims and safeguard the sanctity of Islam amid persistent attacks and negative profiling.
In a statement signed by the Council’s Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, on Sunday, the Sultan reaffirmed the NSCIA’s commitment to peace and unity, saying Muslims have continued to exercise silence and restraint despite repeated provocation, assaults and baseless profiling.
“It should be clear that restraint is not cowardice. But there is always a limit to endurance,” said the Sultan, who also serves as the Amirul Mu’minin of Nigerian Muslims.
He maintained that Muslims continue to face marginalisation in Nigeria’s public space, lamenting that they are still being accused of oppressing and persecuting others.
“While it is obvious that Muslims are being marginalized in the public space in Nigeria, it is a paradox that there are still individuals bereft of conscience who persistently accuse the obviously deprived Muslims of oppression and persecution”, the statement said.
The Council further alleged that “certain foreign interests” were using the narrative to deceive their evangelical support base, create confusion, incite unrest and possibly dismember Nigeria.
The NSCIA also criticised comments made by a former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, during a recent Channels Television programme.
The Council said the remarks were “reckless, baseless but also irresponsible,” adding that the programme “ought to have attracted at least a reprimand from appropriate government agencies in the interest of peace and national security.”
Alhaji Abubakar III also accused the media and security agencies of applying double standards in matters relating to religion.
“If any Muslim leader has made such statements, he would have been a guest of the police and other security agencies,” the Sultan said.
On the recent kidnapping incidents in Oyo State, the NSCIA faulted attempts by some Christian leaders to blame Fulani people and Muslims.
According to the Council, “the names of the arrested persons in Ibadan suggested otherwise,” while the person arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder in Orire Local Government Area “is not only a Christian but also a pastor.”
The Council also criticised Arise Television over its handling of the incident after one of its presenters, Ojy Okpe said the suspect’s actions were not representative of any religion.
“This stark revelation made one of the Christian owned media, Arise Television, to hypocritically dismiss the incident as not representative of any religion. If the suspect has been a Muslim, the opposite would have been canvassed,” the statement said.
The NSCIA further condemned the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, Ardo Risku Muhammad, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, after a peace meeting.
According to the Sultan, the killings were “part of systematic attack to provoke the Muslims who would in turn be tagged as aggressors.”
The Council also expressed concern over what it said was the shrinking representation of Muslims in public offices.
It argued that “when any of the few Muslims exits office, he or she is replaced by a non Muslim,” citing Adebayo Adelabu as an example.
The statement also recalled that Yakubu Gowon appointed Obafemi Awolowo as Federal Commissioner for Finance and Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council without controversy over both leaders being Christians.
It added that Nnamdi Azikiwe and Awolowo also contested presidential elections with Christian running mates without attracting criticism over same faith tickets.
While renewing its appeal for Muslims to remain peaceful, the NSCIA urged the government and security agencies to intervene before frustration among Muslims deepens.
“It is imperative that government and security agencies should act decisively before the Muslims run out of patience in the light of persistent attacks and unbridled marginalization,” the statement said.
The Council called on the government to ensure that those responsible for the recent killings in Kaduna and Benue states are brought to justice without delay.
“Anything short of this is an invitation to anarchy,” the Sultan warned.
The NSCIA also demanded a thorough investigation into allegations against police officers accused of handing over a female Muslim scholar who was later burnt to death by a mob, as well as officers linked to the circumstances surrounding the killing of the MACBAN chairman.
The statement concluded by calling on authorities to stop attacks on the integrity of Islam and Muslims.
“The barrage of open assaults on the integrity of Islam and the Muslims in public spaces should be checked in the interest of peace and order. Enough is enough.”
This version better reflects the original statement by letting the NSCIA speak in its own words on its strongest and most contentious claims, while the surrounding narrative remains factual and properly attributed.
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