Tom Garba
The National Chairman of the renowned Islamic group, Jamaatul Izalatul Bidiah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Shiekh Abdullahi Bala Lau, has lauded Federal Government for its commitment to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
Lau made the commendation in Yola in an interview with newsmen.
“The approach taken by President Buhari to end the insurgency is a welcome one. I want to appeal to all Nigerians irrespective of religion to accord the administration the needed support and payers to succeed.
“Religion leaders also need to preach the gospel of love and peace as enshrine in the Holy Books”, Lau said.
Lau urged government to also hastened the prosecution of all those arrested for alleged involvement in the insurgency, adding that some innocent people had been arrested hence the need to sort and free such people from further incarceration.
“Government need to ensure justice and fairness in handling the issue of those arrested in connection to Boko haram; speedy trial of suspects is necessary so as to free some of those that are innocent from further hardship.” Lau said.
On recent warning by the Theatre Commander, Maj Gen Yushau Abubakar that the insurgents are planning to disguise as members of religious aid groups to attack places of worship, Lau said JIBWIS has fully mobilized members of its aid group against attempt to infiltrate it.
“You know three weeks ago one of our Jummat mosques was attacked where we lost some of our aids members on duty.
” It is a wakeup call, we are doing our best and we hope some people will not hide under the warning to blackmail our aid group members as its once happened when some of our aids members in uniform where paraded as Boko Haram suspects”, Lau said.
While re-iterating JIBWIS commitment to partner with all stakeholders in promoting peace and security, Lau urged the security operatives to always link up with religious bodies on any security matter that relate to them before going to press.
“This warning on plan to use aid groups’ uniform to attack places of worship came to us through the media. We had expected the military to have communicated to us first through the usual channel before going to press in view of its seriousness”, Lau said.
