The umbrella body of Muslims in Nigeria, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has expressed shock that bandits and terrorists are now becoming bolder in their violent attacks on individuals and communities in Nigeria despite huge budgetary provisions for security sub sector.

A statement by JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu said that terrorists are now becoming bolder and more belligerent by the day without fear of being confronted or apprehended by authorities.

“With all the reported resources allocated to relevant security agencies; intelligent gathering mechanism, military arsenal and tact, can’t the Government provide any convincing justification on why the security situation in the country continues to deteriorate? Why are attacks experienced all over the place and continuing unabated without any deterrence? “Moreover, why must the security budget and expenditure remain so secretive, despite the reported release of funds?

“The mind-boggling train attack of Monday, March 28, 2022, the kidnap and sporadic shootings that ensued thereafter the train en-route Kaduna needs to be seriously investigated and punitive measures are taken.

“Although, without doubt, the security men have exhibited capacity, resilience, determination and dexterity during the rescue operation of the same ill-fated train attack.

“It is also the firm belief of most Nigerians that the Government is expected to know the enclaves and hideouts of these criminals, particularly that only Government has absolute control and use of force, and by extension, it also has the machinery to generate genuine information.

“Again, why can’t the Government proactively take the battle to the criminals’ hideouts and wipe them off? Why should the Government wait until people are attacked, lives and property lost for them to strike and be issuing empty orders and usual condemnation? The whys are endless?

“It is high time the security outfits are directed to ransack the enclaves of all criminal elements and deal with them decisively. Informants should not be spared, as they are more dangerous than the killers.

“They should be made to face the right punishment befitting their crime. The intelligence community should beef up their efforts in trying to dig to the root of this phenomenon.

“It is also worth noting, that in recent times, scholars of social behaviour have discovered that most acts of terrorism and banditry are carried out under the influence of hard drugs. As part of efforts to tackle insecurity in Nigeria, the war on drugs should be placed on the front burner as it is the elixir that spurs criminals to action. Suppliers, vendors and traffickers of hard drugs and intoxicants must be dealt with decisively.

“To say the least, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) is agonized and short of words to express herself over the gory incident of the infamous train attack which happened on Monday, 28th March 2022.

“The well-orchestrated incident remains highly condemnable, reprehensible and upsetting to every rational mind. It appears that the continuous callous acts of mayhem, killings and arson happening almost on daily or weekly bases around us; either within communities and/or on the roads we ply, have automatically reset our human psyche that we now have accepted such dastardly acts as part of our lives, to the extent that we no longer feel it.

“The humanity in us is slowly being eroded thereby making us adapt to the new normal within which we, unfortunately, found ourselves.

“It should be noted that in Islam and by all global standards, the essence of Government and Governance is solely to protect the five principal cardinal rights of the human race, the most important of which is LIFE! Any government that is incapable of protecting the lives of its citizens has lost the moral justification for being there in the first place; this is enunciated in section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We have however carefully studied and followed up the unfortunate train blast, especially that another train attack was reported to have occurred on the Lagos-Kano bound train, near Jaji, Kaduna state, on Thursday, 31st March 2022, which inevitably led to the death of the locomotive operator.

“Therefore, this press release is premised on the fact that Nigeria is more or less heading to an unknown destination of multiple cum well-coordinated serial chaos attributable to lack of coordination and synergy from security personnel if the news making the round is to be believed.

“Nevertheless, history is replete with several astonishing and brave art of governance exhibited over time by leaders. For instance, during the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he battled and expelled Banu Qaynuqa from the city of Madinah, because a woman was molested in the market by one of them and the community supported his actions.

“The Prophet (SAW) did not waste time but promptly attacked Banu Qaynuqa and expelled them. This served as deterrence to others with evil intentions.

“In the Nigeria of today, how many wives are raped daily in the presence of their husbands, mothers in the presence of their sons? “How many daughters are raped in the presence of their fathers and sisters in the presence of their brothers? This happens a lot, and it is well known.

“What action did the authorities take in averting and/or remedying such absurd and ungodly happenstance? Why must the country be brought to kneel? Human life is held sacrosanct in Islam that is why Allah (SWT) declared in the Glorious Quran that if a single soul is killed without just cause, then it is as if the entire humanity is wiped off the face of the earth. We claim to be people of faith and all these occurrences are allowed without any form of prompt intervention. Why?

“Well, it should be known that an attack on one soul is an attack on all, and this is how the human race should be preserved and protected, but if allowed to continue we fear the consequence (s) of the innocent souls that were killed, without any fault of theirs.

“Terrorists are now becoming bolder and more belligerent by the day. They operate in any area of their choice(s) at any time they so wish. They even operate for up to 8 hours non-stop (as it was reported to have happened in Niger State last Monday), without any fear of being confronted or apprehended.

“Most communities are now under the bandits’ absolute control with taxes being paid to bandits–some parts of Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto states and some others yet to be disclosed to the public. In fact, terrorists do what they wish knowing that there is no gun powder or authority that will defy them.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) and other security agencies should as a matter of national security note and penetrate into villages, higher institution campuses, motor parks and recreational or viewing centres, because they are now dwellings where hard drugs/substances are being peddled brazenly.

“Likewise, parents, religious and community leaders have a role to play in the fight against illicit drugs/substances pervading most households within our neighbourhoods. This should be considered a fight for all and not only for the government.

“Those vested with the responsibility of protecting lives should fear Allah, The Most High and do what is expected of them. Security issues must not be politicized. They should be proactive and firm on all matters relating to security.

“If the terrorists have the effrontery to attack at any time without fear, why should the Government shy away from pursuing and destroying them? We nevertheless reiterate our several calls to the government that there is strong nexus between the Boko Haram insurgency and the ongoing banditry in some parts of the country.

“We stated this in our December 14th 2020, 18th February 2021 and earlier sometimes in 2018 as a result of the repeated perilous insecurity challenges bedevilling the Nigerian nation, hence, the need to urgently revamp the nation’s security architecture and effectively look inward for an appropriate way(s) to averting and/or mitigating the recurring misnomer in Nigeria.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians not to be deterred, but rather should be more optimistic, as with every hardship comes a relief (Qur’anic verse). We should therefore continue to pray fervently for the restoration of peace, security, prosperity and development, especially in this blessed month of Ramadan.

“We pray Allah, the forgiver of sins and the healer of the ill; will forgive the shortcomings of those who have lost their lives in the ill-fated train attack, give their families and associate the fortitude to bear the loss. May the injured recover comprehensively and the traumatized strong to continue with their respective lives.

“May He also guide the Government and the security agencies, give them the wisdom to tackle all challenges head-on and may He also bring a total end to these repeated orgies of insecurity and every other ill bedevilling Nigeria. We pray for Allah’s continuous protection throughout our sojourn on earth and in the hereafter,” the statement added.

Source: Daily Sun.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has responded to a statement credited to the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo to the effect that Muhammadu Buhari’s government is overwhelmed by the security challenges in the country.

According to Lai Mohammed, the government is not overwhelmed because the security challenge facing the country is not a conventional war for which solders are trained.

Answering questions today, April 4, on a TVC programme: “This Morning,” the minister said: “we must give kudos to our military. You know that we are not fighting a conventional war but terrorism, hence the need for everyone to support the security agencies so as to win over the menace.

He said that the government is fast-tracking the installation of some security gadgets on railway tracks to ensure adequate surveillance.

“The Federal Government is working toward ensuring that such incident does not reoccur.

“One of the things that the government wants to do is to fast-track the installation of surveillance and monitoring system, not just on the Abuja-Kaduna rail track. But also on the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe rail tracks to ensure that at any given time we will be able to monitor from the control room.”

Lai Mohammed said that in spite of the security challenges, the military and other security personnel are doing their best and have recorded successes in their fight against terrorism.

 “The Federal Government has also given the military the enabling environment to continue in the fight against terrorism and banditry,’’ he said.

The minister assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that every state is secured.

Source: NAN.

Chairman of the National Assembly Mosque Zone E, Apo Legislators’ Quarters, Gudu District Abuja, Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, has given reasons why the Mosqu’s chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid was sacked, saying that his teachings of political apathy are un-Islamic.

The Islamic cleric was initially suspended for his anti-government sermon during the Jum’at service on Friday, criticizing the government for its inadequacy in dealing with rising insecurity in the country.
The committee chairman said that the Chief Imam did not show “remorse” after he was suspended immediately after the Jum’at prayer, stressing that his reaction did not show any form of regret following his sermon.
The content of the letter suspending Sheik Khalid reads: “We regret to inform you that from today the 4th day of April 2023 you have been disengaged from the services of the above-mentioned mosque.
“This action is occasioned by the non-remorseful attitude you exhibited following your suspension on 2nd April this year.
“Akamakallah, you know better than me by the teaching of Islam, the essence of administering punishment is to correct behaviour. Unfortunately, your media reaction to the suspension creates the impression that you are not remorseful, NOT to talk of humbly reflecting on the consequences of your utterances.
“Leadership demands a great sense of responsibility. If our words do more harm than good to larger interest of the country or the public. We have a responsibility to maximum restraint for the good of public. It is obvious however, that you don’t seem keen to modify your Friday sermon to be reflective of the volatility of security situation in the country.
“You are an influencer; your words carry a lot of weights, you words can make or mar our situation. Your words can be taken advantage of by mischief makers, those responsible for these security challenges or enemies of the country for their devilish agendas.
“As leaders of the mosque we have a sacred responsibility to avoid utterances that are capable of making a bad situation worse. This is our fear and concern.”

Reacting to his suspension, Khalid said that only God could give or take power from anyone.

Police and soldiers swung into action to save Chibiri community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from sliding into bloody clash today, April 4.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper, showed that the herdsmen, who live in an empty space in the neighborhood, invaded Chibiri village, inflicting injuries on Gwari people, including their traditional head.
Sources said that it all started when a Gwari who was returning from his farm, along with his son met a motorcycle crossing his path.
It was said that when the Gwari man attempt at removing the motorcycle from the path, a young Fulani emerged from no where to challenge him.
It was gathered that in the process the two sides began to insult each other and after, departed to their houses.
It was gathered that hours later, a group of herdsmen, who might have been mobilized to attack the villagers, based on the information the Fulani man fed them with, invaded the village, wielding some weapons.
It was learnt that before they could do damage that might result into bloodbath, both the police and soldiers have arrived to take control of the situation.
The village head and some Gwari people were said to have been wounded and taken for treatment.
As at the time of this report, the police are taking positions in strategic flash points in the village.