The National Headquarters of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) painstakingly notes with concern the unfortunate sectarian violence which bedeviled Southern Kaduna for quite sometime now and it has monitored events relating to the unfortunate serial killings, as they unfolded. More worrisome was the ineptitude and pettiness from some religious leaders, and individuals with sinister motives and political undertones alongside intent to foment trouble, and imbalance reportage. While at some quarters, unguarded utterances full of exaggerations, beating the drums of war were the order of the day. Planting the seed of discord, acrimony, hate speech and unguarded statements, such as; “religious cleansing”,” systematic genocide through the instrumentality of Islamic fundamentalists…”, “therefore, all Christians are to dress in mourning attire of black clothes or dresses… on January 8, 2017”, “Christians should defend themselves”, and exaggeration of figures of casualties horrendously, etc, are obviously factors that exasperated the crisis.
Thank God, security agencies considered the alleged given figures as mere exaggerations. Additionally, a formidable Christian group rejected the call of dressing in mourning attire of black clothes. However, JNI is really worried with these aforementioned and ugly developments of accusations and counter accusations from religious leaders, which could lead to an un-ending conflict. Nonetheless, as always we reiterate that human life is sacred and should be treated so.
It should be however noted that the 2011 post election violence is still fresh in our memories, particularly the documented gruesome murder of Muslims by the Southern Kaduna Christians. The then Federal Government had to set up a powerful Committee in order to investigate the immediate and remote causes that led to the saga and further advice the government. Likewise the Kaduna State Government constituted a reconciliatory Committee. It doesn’t matter the length of time, one day, perpetrators would be brought to justice, sooner or later. This is so opined because an adage says; “If the witch forgets, the mother of the bewitched son forgets not”.
Despite all the aforesaid, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, calls on all and sundry to be calm, restraint, eschew bitterness and discard all forms of hate speeches. He affirmed the efforts of the JNI leadership striving towards achieving a sustainable peaceful co-existence. He equally urges security agencies to always take proactive measures in order to nip in the bud future occurrences of sectarian violence in troubled areas. As he also calls for responsible and responsive leadership in addressing issues as they unfold so as to find lasting peace in our country. The Sultan also maintains that Nigerians should learn to be patient with one another, live together in peace, harmony and mutual respect in order to move the country forward. He equally applauded the Muslim Ummah for not taking the laws into their hands, in the name of reprisal attacks and urged that the tempo be sustained.
He implores government to step up its efforts in discharging her primary constitutional role of providing security and be just in dealing with the citizenry without fear or favour. By and large, he urges all to fear Allah (SWT) in our doings, as we shall all account for our respective actions and inactions before our creator.
Lastly, Muslims are called upon to intensify prayers for the restoration of peace and security in Southern Kaduna in particular and Nigeria at large, bearing in mind that without Nigeria there will be no Nigerians!
Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu
Secretary-General, JNI
