Nigerian Islamic leaders, Sultan of Sokoto, condemn Boko Haram

President Jonathan & The Sultan

Muslim leaders across Nigeria, including the Sultan of Sokoto, released statements in condemnation of Boko Haram.
Islamic group, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji
Sa’ad Abubakar III released a statement concerning Christmas day bomb explosions in Nigeria, “We condemn in strong terms the series of bomb blasts and violence in the country especially those of Christmas Day bomb blasts in Madalla near Abuja, Damaturu and Jos, which resulted in the unfortunate loss of lives of innocent people and properties. It is sad and disheartening. Human life is sacred and therefore must be respected, preserved and protected at all times by all. Security agencies must fish out the perpetrators of these dastardly acts and make them face wrath of the law, regardless of their status, so as to serve as deterrent to others and also must take proactive measures to nip in the bud the reoccurrence of such dastardly acts before they happen in order to create a sense of security and safety in the citizenry. While commiserating with those who lost their loved ones and properties in the unfortunate incidents, we call on all citizens to take security as the responsibility of all, cooperate, and assist security agencies in the discharge of their duties.”

Famous Islamic scholar and leader of the Dariqa sect, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi stated, “I am dismayed over the bombing of religious places. Even at war front, leaders of the warring religions normally canvass for peace through dialogue but not through killings of innocent souls or burning of places of worship or properties. Even when two sides engage in a religious war, women and children as well as people taking shelter in churches are untouchable as enshrined in Islam. I blame lack of punishment for culprits, lack of good leadership and injustice by leaders as being responsible for the rising spate of bombings in the country. I urge Nigerians to pray for the salvation of the country, and for peace and stability to reign.”

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III stated, “We came in here to felicitate and commiserate with Mr. President over the unfortunate incident that happened this period. We have had a very positive meeting with Mr. President on so many things and how to move this country forward, how to make our country stable and to approach
those challenges that is facing Nigeria on a common ground. I want to assure all Nigerians that there is no conflict between Christians and Muslims, between Islam and Christianity. It is a conflict between evil people and good people and the good people are more than the evil doers. The good people must come together to defeat the evil ones and that is the message. We want to assure all our Christian brothers and leaders that we stand on the part of truth
according to our religion, that we will continue to work Insha Allahu for the greatness of this country. As I said there is no conflict between Islam and Christianity and I want to assure that we will do all we can in the best of our ability to solve the numerous problems confronting our country. The government will look at all the past reports including the one set up by the President on the North East crisis, also the Solomon Lar report on the Plateau and other reports and, at the resumption of work, Mr. President and his team will look through all those reports and then call for a meeting of a larger body for consultation with all of us, both religious and traditional leaders. So we believe that is a very good way because we have to close ranks because nowhere in our two religions, both Christianity and Islam that says we should be violent in dealing with one another.”