The Muslim Ummah of Southwest of Nigeria (MUSWEN) has described insecurity in the country as intolerable.
Rising from a three-day Strategic Retreat at Babalakin Hall in Gbongan, Osun State, the umbrella body for Muslims in Southwest said security chiefs must up their game from what now appears to be a ‘state of helplessness’.
A statement by the President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, and Executive Secretary Prof. Muslih Tayo Yahya, lamented that insecurity and criminality are on ‘a disturbing increase with no clear design or strategy by governments to stem or stop the trend’.
MUSWEN condemned the murder of an expectant Muslim woman and her four children in Anambra State, and called on security agencies to fish out the killers and bring them to justice. The body deplored the killing of a Christian female student in Sokoto State for alleged blasphemy.
The statement reads: “While we condemn blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad and other principal personalities in other religions, we agree with the position of Sharia that sanctions for any offence, including blasphemy, can only be applied by constituted authorities after judicial pronouncements. Religious and community leaders must educate and engage the citizenry, especially youths, on the need for peaceful co-existence, respect for sanctity of human lives, and respect for the beliefs of others.
“MUSWEN calls on Muslims to live in harmony with their non-Muslim neighbours. Politicians and political office seekers should play the game of politics according to rules, bearing in mind that power belongs to Allah. He gives it to whomsoever He pleases and removes it from whomsoever he wishes.
“MUSWEN is disturbed about the violence reported in the conduct of some of the party primaries, which indicates that politicians still regard politics as a do-or die affair. We call on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to apply relevant laws on erring office seekers well known to the electoral body since its officials monitored the primaries.”