Supreme council tasks FG on killings, cautions religious leaders, politicians over utterances

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has carpeted the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigeria Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) and some political leaders over the killings in the country. The NSCIA in a statement yesterday by its Deputy Secretary General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said some leaders of CAN, the NCE and political leaders are worsening the security situation with their utterances and actions.

Besides, the council described the situation of insecurity in the country, especially recent killings in Plateau as terrible, wicked, evil, disastrous, devilish and calamitous. “The truth is that similar incidents have occurred in other States like Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Zamfara in recent times. Nigeria can definitely not continue like this. These killings must be stopped!”

In the statement titled: “Killings: Let the truth be told,” the NSCIA said it decided not to engage the naysayers in order not to aggravate the situation in the country as Muslims remain the major target of the killers.

The statement reads in part: “Contrary to the impression being created by those who are paid to misinform the public, Muslims were the targeted victims of the killings generally presented as herdsmen killing. It is the maturity of the council that does not allow us to make the situation worse by using emotive language based on the level of violence wreaked on Muslims.

“It is also instructive that the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, has described the disturbing situation Nigerians are witnessing in its true light. According to the Chairman, Reverend Joshua Ray Miller, the attacks are the handiwork of saboteurs and a grand conspiracy to make Nigeria ungovernable, hence make the Buhari Administration appear unpopular as the 2019 general elections approach.”

The statement quoted Ray Miller saying, “It is unfortunate that some people are hiding under the disguise of local Fulani herdsmen to perpetrate these killings and from what we are witnessing, they are heading towards the realms of power at the Federal level.”