Sharia council challenges FG on insecurity

THE Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on the Federal Government to change its tactics in dealing with the security challenges in parts of the country.

The council made the call in a communique signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, after its pre-Ramadan meeting, in Kaduna, attended by about 80 Muslim leaders from about 25 states of the federation.

The SCSN described the effort of the government at checkmating insecurity in the North-East and in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba and Benue states as “grossly inadequate.”

It called on Muslims to continue to pray for the peace of the country, while also urging Imams of Juma’a and other mosques to start saying Dua Al Qunut for the improvement of the security situation in the country.

The Islamic body, however, advised the government to live up to its responsibility by reviewing current security strategy as well as holding security chiefs accountable for their actions and inaction.

The communiqué reads in part: “The security situation in the country has reached an alarming state, in addition to the north-eastern states and now states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba and Benue, where cases of kidnapping, banditry, and Boko Haram are unleashing terror with impunity.

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“The efforts in tackling the situation are grossly inadequate. The council is accordingly calling on the government to live up to its basic responsibility by reviewing its current security strategy and holding the security chiefs accountable for their actions and inaction.

“The government is, therefore, called upon to engage the Fulani leadership, listen to their complaints and pay them compensation over their losses of lives and herds of cattle.

“The council observes that the continuous marginalisation of Muslims in the Armed Forces, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies has not abated. Justice demands that this prolonged marginalisation be urgently addressed.

“The recent political antecedent in the democratic landscape of the country has taught us that as the majority, henceforth the Ummah demands the implementation of democracy in its totality since democracy is a game of numbers.

“We call on all Muslims to continue to pray for peace to reign in this country and both the Imams of Juma’a and other mosques to start saying the Al Qunut for the improvement of the security situation in the country.”