Islamic body berates FG over Zamfara killings, insurgency

The apex Islamic body in the North, Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), yesterday said that the Federal Government was not doing enough to end the unabated killings of innocent persons in Zamfara State and the insurgency in North-East.

Secretary of General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, stated this in a statement, saying government must go beyond mere condemnation of happenings in Zamfara State and fish out evil-doers.

Aliyu, while condemning in totality the re-occurring acts of terrorism and dehumanisation in Zamfara State, expressed worry that the carnage, which claimed uncountable number of lives and destruction of property in the state, had continued unabated for years.

“Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, painfully expresses deep concern over making some parts of Zamfara State a theatre of dehumanisation and desecration of the sanctity of life, property, personal liberty and communal integrity, by wanton destruction of lives and property, as well as terrorising communities.

“This is utterly reprehensible and unacceptable for hooligans and way-wards to hold a whole state to ransom to no avail. Where is the government? Where are the security agencies? Where are the political, community and religious leaders? Where is our conscience? Where is the humanness in us? Above all, where is our Islam? Where are the Qur’an and its pristine teachings? Where is the prophetic guidance in his Sunnah?

“This is very bothersome and calls for realistic investigation that must bring similar occurrence(s) to a final end. It is hardly imaginable that such pusillanimous and evil acts could still occur in Zamfara State despite frequent assurances by government and so-called security briefings said to be received, yet those charged with the responsibility of protecting the citizenry have not been able to curb the diabolical scourge of killing innocent souls. This is indeed very alarming.

“What then is the essence of government and security outfits?
“JNI will continue to ask questions: Who are the blood-thirsty fellows? Why have they been allowed for years? Why have they not been arrested and interrogated? What has been the motive behind such repeated scandalous acts? Isn’t intelligence gathering supposed to aid security operatives and why is it not yielding the desired results? Why the renewed attacks now, just few months before the 2019 general elections? Must innocent bloods be split before every election in Nigeria? Isn’t the government ashamed that it cannot provide statutory responsibility of providing security to its citizenry? Why have the political gladiators in Zamfara State and beyond resort to exchanging unsavory words instead of resolving the matter? Indeed, there is much more than meets the eyes,” the statement said.