Islamic bodies condole with CAN, Christians over slain priest

THE Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), The Muslim Congress (TMC), the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) and the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) have roundly condemned the killing of the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Reverend Lawan Andimi, by the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The NSCIA, which is an umbrella body for Muslims in Nigeria led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the other prominent Muslim groups, in separate statements, described Andimi’s murder as barbaric.

The NSCIA, in its statement signed by its head of media and communication, Malam Aselemi Ibrahim, condemned the killing of the cleric “in the strongest terms.”

The statement reads in part: “It is barbaric, provocative and a flagship example of man’s inhumanity to man. The council believes that Boko Haram is trying to make the country ungovernable and to incite Christians against Muslims in Nigeria.

“The council hereby expresses its heart-felt condolences to the immediate family of Pastor Lawan Andimi in particular and the leadership and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in general.

“We want to state unequivocally that we are committed to a united Nigeria where everyone is protected and free to practise his/her religion without any encumbrances.

“We call on the Federal Government and the security apparatus to be alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties.”

Nigeria must unite against Boko Haram –MURIC

In the same vein, MURIC expressed consternation and bewilderment at the killing and described the incident as horrendous and ungodly.

The statement by MURIC’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, reads: “We are at a loss for words. This killing is horrendous, ungodly and barbaric. We condemn it in the strongest terms possible.

“We reiterate our earlier declaration that Boko Haram is not an Islamic group. Rather, it is a group of misled zealots. Any group that kills at will and sheds the blood of innocent people cannot represent Islam.

“What is the crime of Reverend Andimi? Being a Christian is not a crime. There are thousands of honest, hardworking, law-abiding and God-fearing Christians in this country.

“Every individual is free to follow any faith of his or her choice because the Qur’an forbids compulsion in religion, while the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.

“It is crystal clear from the antics of Boko Haram that the group is keen on igniting a religious war. They are deliberately targeting Christians for attacks in order to provoke the Nigerian Christian community. But they have failed. They have failed because Nigerians understand what Boko Haram is doing. We will not fall into Boko Haram’s trap. We call on all Nigerians, regardless of religious background, to unite against Boko Haram. We must stand up together to fight the evil in our midst.

“MURIC calls on the Federal Government to intensify and expedite action on uprooting Boko Haram. We charge the Nigerian military to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to eliminate the insurgents.

“Our hearts are heavy as we remember the bereaved family. But we are assured in the global reach of God’s divine umbrella. Only He can console them. Only He can heal. We pray that Almighty God will give succour to members of the deceased’s family, his friends and associates.

“We commiserate with the leadership of CAN in particular and the Nigerian Christian community in general. In times like this, it is only patience, maturity and statesmanship that have kept Nigeria going. We must remember that both sides have lost key figures to Boko Haram attacks.

“Many imams and high-profile shaykhs have been killed by these same insurgents. We are all losing our loved and respected clerics, friends and family members. We are all victims. Let us console ourselves and strengthen our position with prayers instead of resorting to blame game.”

Boko Haram an indiscriminate evil –TMC

The amir (president) of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Dr Lukman AbdurRaheem, while condemning the killing of Reverend Andimi, noted that Boko Haram doesn’t target only Christians.

He said several innocent Muslims have lost their lives to a decade-long reign of terror by the group.

“Irrespective of the factions – Abubakar Shekau or the DAESH/ISWAP led Boko Haram, – Muslims and Christians are being abducted and murdered indiscriminately by a group of brainwashed youths who hide under Islam to commit evil.

“There were Muslims among the Chibok and Dapchi girls. Two Muslim aid workers were recently abducted and murdered the same way Reverend Andimi was murdered on Monday,” he said.

Muslim News, an online newspaper quoted the TMC president as describing Boko Haram as impostors, insisting that they might claim to represent Islam but in reality, they are not Muslims, going by their ideological leanings and actions.

The acts of bombing and killing, irrespective of the motives, are disliked, despised and condemned by Islam and the Qur’an, he emphasised.

Quoting from the Qur’an, Dr AbdurRaheem said “…If anyone slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”

He called on all Nigerians, especially the Christian community and the media, not to see Boko Haram’s “senseless attacks” as jihad against them.

“Jihad doesn’t mean killing non-Muslims. In fact, in wars, unarmed monks in the monasteries, Christians in the churches and Muslims in the mosques, including women, children and the aged are to be spared but today, this group hasn’t only killed indiscriminately, they have attacked mosques and churches since they started their battle.

“The sect may hold the Noble Qur’an and shout ‘Allahu Akbar!’ That doesn’t make their actions right. This is the phenomenon of Muslim Identity Theft (MIT). They have stolen our physical appearance and pretend to be Muslims, but have satanic and cultic ideologies which are antithetical to Islam,” Dr AbdurRaheem added.

Support military to end Boko Haram –MMWG

The MMWG described Andimi’s killing as unfortunate and condemnable.

It expressed concern that in spite of the Federal Government’s effort and the military’s actions across the affected parts of the country, the “dare-devil criminals continue to perpetrate their nefarious activities.”

The group, in a statement by its national coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, said Boko Haram’s targeting of religious leaders and other innocent citizens in their “devilish attacks and carnage” should convince the “doubting Thomases that these are not religious elements but criminally-minded people bent on causing tribal and religious war in the country.”

The statement reads: “It will be recalled that several imams and Islamic scholars have been abducted and some killed in their residences and mosques in the north-east and north-west of Nigeria, giving credence to the fact that they are enemies of the entire people of Nigeria.

“We appeal to Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, tribes and locations, to continue to support and pray for the military to overcome the challenges.

“For the past 12 years that these terrorism and insurgency started, several casualties, as a matter fact in hundreds, have been recorded by the army and the air force, yet the military officers and men are still fighting on in their determination and commitment to crush this rebellion called Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency.

“MMWG salutes the Nigerian military and implores those accusing them of lying on decimation of Boko Haram to stop. Were it not for gallant efforts of Nigerian military supported by their African sub-regional military around the Lake Chad Basin, the whole of Nigerian nation could have been overrun by Boko Haram elements.

“Their current attacks seem to be occasioned by military’s unrelenting efforts in ‘smoking them out’. They then resorted to intermittent reprisals to show that some remnants of them still exist.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the Budget 2020 provisions for the military, the police and other security agencies, as approved by the National Assembly, are released promptly to execute military attacks aimed at confronting the menace head-on.

“This will enable us crush the enemies once and for all. The president should also address the issue of unemployment and illiteracy to curb the crime of insurgency.

“MMWG appeals to religious leaders and organisations to stop unhealthy rivalry, disunity and disaffection; rather, they must join hands together to extinguish the incorrigible elements in our society so that we can continue to live in peace, harmony and concord to worship God in our various lawful ways.”

Andimi’s killing a criminal act by hate cultists –MPAC

MPAC, in a statement by its director of media and strategic communication, Abdulwarees Solankea, described the killing of Andimi as a criminal act by hate cultists who have no respect for constituted authority, rule of law and sacred traditions.

The statement reads in part: “Their action is capable of damaging community cohesion with a devilish aim of turning the country into a killing field.

“Without doubt, Boko Haram and similar groups that have adopted a violent way of life have gone beyond basic principles of humanity.

“It is now more important for us, mostly through interfaith works, to confront the perverted mindset of the criminals responsible for these killings and challenge their bloodthirsty and dark ideologies.

“These hate cultists are a common threat to us all. We must all work together to confront them and, by the will of Allah, bring their reign of terror to an end.

“We call on the government to intensify efforts to stop the actions of all terror groups, rescue Nigerians still in captivity, confront the challenge of merciless killers in our midst and ensure that our shared future is more positive than our current state.

“MPAC offers its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and the Nigerian Christian community, and in the days after this tragic incident, we urge all people to pray for the souls of victims of terrorism, and for all people to pledge to work to uphold the Quranic value of the sacredness of human life, for believers in God and all people.

“We live in challenging times. Whether through indiscriminate violence, merciless killings or religious fundamentalism, there are many who seek to violently drive us apart.

“However, we must reject any bigotry and hatred and rely on our faith traditions for moral guidance and strength. Through our words and actions, let us allow our faith in God to refocus on minds on the need to renew our commitment to building mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

“The text of the Qur’an is clear on the sanctity and inviolability of human life, young or old, male or female, Muslim, Christian or people of no religious affiliation.”