A leading Nigerian Muslim group has issued a strong-worded statement condemning the army’s extrajudicial killings of Muslims in northern states on the pretext of fighting Boko Haram and terrorism.
“The dimension of extrajudicial killing of Muslims by the military on unsubstantiated suspicion leaves much to be desired, which clearly depicts that Muslims have become an endangered species, murdered and maimed indiscriminately under the guise of fighting terrorism,” read the statement issued by Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Spesh’s World reported on Tuesday, April 8.
Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) statement followed Saturday’s attacks in the northwestern Zamfara sate where more than 112 people were killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen.
It also copes with the report by the National Human Rights Commission in which it revealed that eight Muslims killed last September by army troops were not members of Boko Haram as claimed earlier.
The umbrella Muslim group referred to the extrajudicial killing of 15 Fulani Muslims in Keana in the central state of Nasarawa.
“JNI unequivocally condemns the extrajudicial killing of 15 Fulani Muslims in Keana, the raping and subsequent killing of Binta Usman, the milk maid and all the human rights abuses on innocent Muslims in Maidugri,” the statement said.
“We strongly call for the bringing to justice of the perpetrators of transgression against innocent citizens who have the right to practice the religion they choose.”
According to JNI, the victims of Nasarawa were pardoned by the governor after showing respect to the federal rules and cooperating with the state.
However, they were killed without permissions from the security bodies.
“These are people who have been exonerated by the State Governor as being peace loving people and law abiding,” the group said.
“It is questionable that an operation of this magnitude would be carried-out without the knowledge of the Chief Security Officer of the State, nor other relevant security bodies.
“JNI is concerned that the perpetrators of these genocidal acts against Muslims may go scot free as it was the case with Apo Killings and other similar heinous acts.”
Hidden Agenda
The umbrella Islamic group has urged authorities to take urgent actions to stop the ongoing violence that claims dozens of Muslims lives.
“We call on all our governors, politicians and indeed every well-meaning citizen to do something before it gets out of hand,” the statement said.
NJI has also lamented the security crackdown to stifle the Muslim community, saying that it is a part of a hidden agenda that aims to marginalize the minority.
“We can say without any fear of contradiction that there is a grand agenda to destabilize the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria,” it added.
“If any Nigerian is in doubt regarding the hidden agenda to destabilize Muslims in Nigeria, and cautiously reduce their rising human capital, then the Zamfara State incident should have removed this doubt.”
The group has also pointed to the rights groups’ report about abusing and Muslim carnages in the African country, urging an investigation on anti-Muslim crimes committed by the military.
“Where is the human rights compliance and rule of engagement by the military personnel involved in maintaining peace and security? Why are the defaulting military personnel not brought to book as a deterrent?” NJI asked.
“The military should know that it is extremely dangerous to polarize security agencies along religious line.
“It will have far-reaching negative effect on the country, especially at this material time, when the efforts of all are required to cushion the effect of the pains we are passing through.”
Nigeria, one of the world’s most religiously committed nations, is divided between a Muslim north and a Christian south.
Muslims and Christians, who constitute 55 and 40 percent of Nigeria’s 140 million population respectively, have lived in peace for the most part.
But ethnic and religious tensions have bubbled for years, fuelled by decades of resentment between indigenous groups, mostly Christian or animist, who are vying for control of fertile farmlands with migrants and settlers from the Hausa-speaking Muslim north.
The tensions are rooted in decades of resentment between indigenous groups, mostly Christian or animist, who are vying for control of fertile farmlands and for economic and political power with mostly Muslim migrants and settlers from the north.
Source: OnIslam
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