by Panshak Ibrahim
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, has reacted to Friday’s bombing of Kano Central Mosque, saying that the government’s war on terror is far from effective.
The Islamic body expressed shock and pain at the attack on the Kano mosque which killed 120 worshippers, while it also decried the state at which “the blood of innocent souls” is being spilled, adding that Nigeria is “being misgoverned to the brink”.
The Secretary-General of the JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, made the comments on Sunday, 30 November, in Kaduna, where he urged Muslims to take defensive measures permitted within the law to protect themselves, due to the government’s inability to do so.
Abubakar-Aliyu blamed the government for the bombings in the northern part of Nigeria, saying that the recent attacks was the government’s way of justifying the importance of the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
He said, “But must blood be spilled to justify the extension of state of emergency? Why is it that any time the ineffective state of emergency is about to elapse and/or an extension is being sought, attacks are carried out with sophistication?”
“Are we really aware of the repercussions of spilling the blood of innocent souls? What is the essence of the government’s war on terror and its attendant huge budget? Where are the intelligence and security agencies?”
“Can we afford to continue relying on them for our safety and security? Why? We ask ad infinitum with no satisfactory answers. Without mincing words, Nigeria is being misgoverned to the brink!”
Speaking further, the JNI scribe condemned the multiple bomb blasts and also questioned why the government was yet to prosecute anybody in the attacks that occurred in Kano last year.
He added, “JNI will not be deterred nor cowed in observing the way and manner Muslims are being killed in Nigeria, particularly in the North.”
