Handle tension in Benue, others with care, Akinola tells FG

THE Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, has advised the Federal Government to handle various communal and intertribal clashes in the northern part of the country with care.

Akinola gave the advice while receiving the Chief Imam of Bilal Central Mosque, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Monhir Thofir Alqoatoni, who paid him a courtesy visit in his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Muslim leader said the government needs to show good faith and the fear of Allah in handling difficult situations, especially where human lives are at stake.

He condoled, on behalf of the entire Muslin community of the South West, with the families of those who were murdered recently in Benue and Kaduna states, describing the killings as barbaric and such which should not be allowed to happen again in the country.

Describing Islam as a religion of peace, Alhaji Akinola said communal clashes and intertribal strife should not be linked with the religion.

He urged the Federal Government to make the culprits in the recent killing face the law and take steps to avert future occurrence.

Akinola charged the Saudi Arabia authorities to support Nigeria in its quest for unfettered growth and development by throwing its weight behind the country’s fight against terrorism and insurgency in all forms.

Responding, Sheikh Alqoatoni said the Saudi Arabia government was poised to crush terrorism and disregard for human lives and was ready to partner with any country in the crusade to uphold the security and sanctity of the human life.

He said he was in the country to assess some Islamic facilities and develop a framework on how to mobilise support for the improvement of the facilities.