As fresh reports of killings, kidnappings, and armed raids ripple across parts of Nigeria, concern is once again mounting over the country’s fragile security landscape. In recent weeks, communities in Niger and Borno states have recorded deadly attacks, while parts of Kwara State have also faced violence and criminal activity that unsettled residents and disrupted daily life.

For many Nigerians, especially those in rural and semi-urban areas, farming, travel, and even worship now carry once-unthinkable risks.

Against this tense backdrop, the 31st annual pre-Ramadan lecture of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) held at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, turned into a platform for reflection on faith, responsibility, and the urgent need for unity.

The theme of the lecture, “The Light Beyond: Guiding Our Souls to Paradise,” suggested a focus on spirituality. Yet much of the conversation returned to insecurity and the moral obligations of Muslims in a time of national distress.

The event featured dignitaries and public figures. Among them were the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by his deputy, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur; the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

Also present was the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Secretary-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, was represented by Olufemi Shuaib. Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, academics, religious leaders, and other guests added colour and candour to the gathering.

Although the annual lecture has been held for over three decades, this year’s edition carried unusual weight. Nigeria’s security challenges are no longer distant headlines. They are lived realities. Communities in Kwara State, for instance, have in recent times reported attacks and criminal incursions that have left families displaced and livelihoods threatened. Similar patterns in parts of the North-East and North-Central have deepened public anxiety. In this climate, calls for unity and restraint resonated strongly.

The University of Lagos Muslim Alumni was formally established in 1985 to promote fellowship among Muslim graduates of the institution. However, the idea for the association dates back to 1968, when early Muslim graduates began discussing the need for an organised body.

It was not until 1985 that the association was officially founded. Two years later, in 1987, UMA conducted its first election, laying the foundation for structured leadership and long-term planning.

Over the years, the association has grown beyond a social network of former students. It has become a platform for intellectual engagement, religious education, and community service. The annual pre-Ramadan lecture, which began in 1995, remains one of its flagship programmes.

What started as a spiritual preparation session has evolved into a forum where faith intersects with national issues.

In his address, UMA President, Dr. Mumini Alao, began by reaffirming support for Nigeria’s democratic system. He stressed that periodic change of government through the ballot box remains essential for stability.

According to him, the electoral process must continue to improve. He challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen its systems to ensure free and fair elections. Politicians who emerge victorious, he added, must practise good governance to sustain democracy.

His remarks reflected concern that insecurity often thrives where governance is weak and trust in institutions is low.

Yet Alao’s speech did not stop at political processes. He moved directly to the more urgent issue of national security.

History, Alao warned, is filled with examples of countries where foreign intervention, supposedly in the name of protecting citizens, resulted in deeper instability. Nigeria, he implied, must be careful not to invite solutions that could distort its sovereignty.

At the same time, he emphasised that insecurity affects all Nigerians, regardless of religion. Muslims, Christians, and adherents of other faiths have all suffered from kidnappings, insurgency, and banditry.

The UMA president specifically condemned Boko Haram and similar groups that claim religious justification for violence. Such actors, he said, do not define Islam.
With more than two billion Muslims worldwide, the vast majority are peaceful people. Those who kill, abduct, and terrorise in the name of religion, he argued, are acting in clear contradiction to Islamic teachings.

Speaking on the topic: ‘Muslims and the challenge of national security’, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede returned repeatedly to the idea that insecurity is not only a political failure but also a moral one. He painted a picture of a country burdened by fear, displacement, and uncertainty.

Nigeria, he said, has a large security architecture, a long history of resilience, and a deeply religious population. Yet, despite these strengths, violence continues to spread. He pointed to reports of deadly raids in Niger State, attacks in parts of Borno, violence in southern Kaduna, incidents in Kaiama in Kwara State, and militant activities in other regions.

These incidents, Oloyede noted, are not isolated. Kidnapping, banditry, and criminal violence have become mobile, crossing state and regional boundaries. Economic activities have suffered, while fear has reshaped everyday life.

For Muslims, he said, the crisis comes with an additional burden. When perpetrators claim to act in the name of Islam, ordinary Muslims are forced to carry suspicion and blame for crimes they neither support nor condone.

Oloyede insisted that Islam places security at the centre of its teachings. In Islamic law, he explained, safety from harm is not optional. It is a duty. Every Muslim is expected to be an agent of peace and a protector of life.

He broke this down in simple terms. Islam, he said, prioritises the security of life, which is why killing is forbidden. It protects property, which explains the prohibition of theft. It safeguards the intellect by banning intoxicants. It defends religion by insisting on justice, compassion, and peaceful coexistence.

To harm others, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, is therefore a betrayal of faith.

Oloyede stressed that Islam does not permit injustice. Protecting places of worship, including churches and synagogues, he said, is embedded in Islamic teachings. Violence against innocent people cannot be justified under any religious claim.

He challenged Muslims to take responsibility, deepen moral education among young people, and strengthen community protection without creating new forms of oppression. Accountability, he said, must be demanded from the state, but citizens must also play their part.

The Nigeria, many desire, he added, is one where travel is not a risk, farming is not a death sentence, and worship is free from fear.

Communities in Kaiama, Kwara state, and surrounding areas have faced attacks that disrupted farming and trade. For families whose livelihoods depend on the land, fear has become a constant companion.

Such experiences, repeated across different regions of Nigeria, explain why insecurity dominated discussions at the lecture. What was once viewed as a distant northern problem has spread across regions, reinforcing calls for collective responsibility.

While much of the lecture focused on insecurity, spiritual reflection remained central to the programme. Sheikh Ridwan Jamiu, Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, reminded the audience of the temporary nature of worldly life.

Speaking on life, death, and accountability, he urged Muslims to reflect on their actions and intentions. Worldly success, he said, is fleeting. What remains is character, obedience to God, and how one treats others.

His message complemented earlier speeches. Insecurity, he implied, thrives where moral discipline collapses. Preparing for the hereafter must therefore include commitment to justice and compassion in this life.

Beyond sermons and speeches, the lecture also highlighted UMA’s practical interventions. Dr. Mumini gave an update on the association’s scholarship scheme.

The initiative, he explained, was born out of observation. At its inception over 30 years ago, UMA noticed that Muslim representation among university teaching staff was low, so the body chose to act.

Through its scholarship programme, UMA has supported 199 scholars to pursue postgraduate studies at master’s and doctoral levels. Many beneficiaries have gone on to build academic and professional careers, contributing to national development.

Alao described education as a quiet but powerful response to insecurity. Knowledge, he said, equips individuals to think critically, resist manipulation, and contribute positively to society.

He appealed to guests and members for increased donations to expand the scheme and raise support for scholars.

Another initiative that drew attention was the Qur’anic recitation challenge. The competition invites students from secondary schools and madrasas to demonstrate proper recitation of the Qur’an.

UMA also distributed food items and other provisions to needy members to help them prepare for Ramadan.

Decades after its formal establishment, UMA has grown into more than an alumni network. From its official founding in 1985, the association has steadily expanded its focus. The first election in 1987 marked the beginning of structured leadership, accountability, and continuity.

What began as a platform for fellowship among Muslim graduates of the University of Lagos gradually evolved into a body that engages questions of education, faith, and national development. The annual pre-Ramadan lecture, introduced in 1995, provides space not only for spiritual preparation but also for engagement with pressing social issues.

Dr. Mumini Alao’s insistence on democratic stability and accountable governance acknowledged that insecurity does not exist in isolation. Weak institutions, poor service delivery, and limited economic opportunity create fertile ground for criminality.

Behind every headline about raids in Niger or attacks in Kwara are families forced to adjust their lives. Farmers abandon fields. Traders close early. Children travel to school with anxiety. Religious gatherings take place under tighter security.

The emphasis on unity at the UMA lecture reflected lived realities. Criminal violence does not respect religious or regional boundaries. Its victims cut across communities.

While speeches addressed immediate concerns, UMA’s scholarship programme and Qur’anic recitation challenge pointed to long-term solutions. Education, as Alao noted, is not separate from security.

For Muslims, Ramadan provides an opportunity to reassess priorities. Beyond abstaining from food and drink, the month calls for restraint in speech, conduct, and intention. In a country troubled by violence, such values carry wider social significance.

After 31 years of annual gatherings, UMA’s pre-Ramadan lecture has become a space where spiritual reflection meets civic responsibility. Security, the speakers suggested, cannot be left solely to the state. It requires citizens committed to justice, leaders accountable to the people, and religious voices willing to reject violence without ambiguity.