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Tag: JNI

  • Islamic group condemns attacks in Borno, Adamawa

    The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) on Tuesday condemned the recent attacks on innocent people in Konduga, Izge and Madagali areas of Borno and Adamawa States.

    The condemnation is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Sale Aliyu.

    “The JNI expresses deep concern over the continued killings and merciless attacks on innocent people in Borno and Adamawa,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the body as saying in the statement.

    It called on the government to strengthen its forces to protect the lives of innocent people in the two states.

    JNI said, “Why will blood be allowed to spill for no just cause? Are we not aware of the devastating repercussion associated with spilling of blood?’’

    It condemned the devastating attacks on unarmed citizens, and called on members of the public to be wary of happenings around them.

    It also called on the government to end the series of “ungodly acts” being perpetrated by miscreants.

     

  • Sultan launches fatwa committee, 12 others

    Sultan launches fatwa committee, 12 others

    The Muslim umbrella body, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), inaugurated yesterday the Fatwa committee, which is saddled with interpreting Islamic jurisprudence and recommending appropriate sanction against offenders.

    The fatwa committee was among 13 committees, majority of which are headed by traditional rulers in the North, inaugurated by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at the national headquarters of the body in Kaduna.

    Speaking at the event, the Sultan said setting up the committee was as a way of uniting Muslims, pointing out that it was important for Muslims to come together as one.

    He said: “The work of Islam should be taken seriously, as our religion has problems and we should fight towards embracing peace and unity amongst ourselves to achieve what has been before.

    “I urged the appointees to be proactive as they accept this wondrous task to serve in the different committees, and make sure that you discharge you duties diligently.”

    The Secretary-General, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the JNI has gone a long way in propagating the ideals of Islam, unity of the Ummah and protecting the overall interests of Muslims since its inception in 1961.

    Aliyu added that the committees are to collaborate with stakeholders to source for support or counterpart funding and further articulate a blue print for the JNI.

    JNI’s spokesman Umar Zaria said the Fatwa Committee was set up to look into current Islamic issues that do not have clear interpretations in Islamic Jurisprudence.

    The committee, Zaria said, has the power to proffer advice, even the passing of a death sentence on an individual.

    He said: “The Fatwa committee will look into areas of modern times and Islam. It would be saddled with the interpretation, for example, whether or not it is Islamically right to eat with fork, spoon or not.

    “It would look into current trends as they concern Muslims and decide on the kind of judgment they would get.

    “This would be more practical in areas where Sharia law is now being practised.

    “Yes, on the passing of a death sentence, even if it is on a non-Muslim, the Fatwa Committee is capable of doing that.

    “But, as I said, it all depends on whether the issue in question is in Islamic Jurisprudence. But the Fatwa committee is strictly on individual behaviour and not a communal committee. And Muslims are the most affected.”

  • JNI to Fed Govt: release Boko Haram ‘leader’

    JNI to Fed Govt: release Boko Haram ‘leader’

    The umbrella body for Muslims in the North, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), yesterday called for the release of a lecturer with the Kogi State University, Muhammad Nazeef Yunus, who was arrested by officials of the State Security Service (SSS).

    Yunus was alleged to be the spiritual leader and recruitment officer for the militant group, Boko Haram.

    JNI’s Secretary-General Khalid Aliyu Abubakar said: “Arresting innocent people and subjecting them to humiliation and physiological torture would instil doubts in the minds of Nigerians, especially Muslims, regarding the sincerity of our security personnel in their fight against extremism.

    “Security officials should conduct their statutory assignments professionally and be careful in handling issues related to Boko Haram.

    “It came to us as a shock that Dr. Muhammad Nazeef Yunus, the director of Al-Bayan School Jos, Plateau State and a lecturer of Islamic Studies with Kogi State University, was arrested in connection with Boko Haram activities.

    “On October 29, SSS operatives raided Nazeef’s house and took him away, and since then his whereabouts was not known until 22 days later when he was paraded.

    “The SSS accussed him of being “the spiritual leader and recruitment coordinator of a terrorist cell in Kogi State.”

    “Dr. Nazeef has denied the allegation in the strongest term, asserting his position as a strong opponent of both the ideology and methodology of Boko Haram. Those who know him have affirmed that he is peace-loving, gentle and kind and a strong antagonist of Boko Haram.

    “His friends and colleagues have testified that they have been engaged in several efforts to halt the Boko Haram ideology. Above all, his PhD thesis is a reference point to that effect.

    “Those who have been following trends know very well that even ordinary members of Boko Haram hardly deny their connection to the ideology.

    “It will, therefore, be doubtful that a “spiritual leader and recruitment officer” of the group would shed tears publicly while denying any link to that ideology.

    “It would sound contradictory that a leader of Boko Haram would still maintain his position as a university lecturer while the first requisite for one to be a member of Boko Haram is to abandon anything connected with Western education.

    “JNI calls on all Muslims to always be law-abiding, shun all dissident activities and continue praying for peace and security in Nigeria.”

  • JNI laments sorry state of the nation

    JNI laments sorry state of the nation

    The Muslim umbrella body in the north, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday lamented the sorry state of security in the country.

    The Secretary General of the Muslim body, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said in a statement that after achieving some level of peace in parts of the North, innocent lives were again lost in attacks.

    Aliyu condemned the killing of some alleged Boko Haram members by security agents in Abuja and urged the government to investigate the incident.

    The statement reads: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) received with shock and bewilderment the cruel and senseless killings/attacks on innocent people at Apo in Abuja (FCT), Benisheikh, in Borno State, Wase, in Plateau State, Kafanchan in Kaduna State and also various attacks in Nasarawa and Taraba States.

    “It is quite unfortunate, regrettable and condemnable that, after witnessing relative peace in some of these states in recent time, these unfortunate recurring massacres are coming up within 72 hours concurrently, claiming many lives.

    “JNI laments this sorry state of affairs in the strongest terms, for the nation seems to be extricating into nihilism, leading to multiple loss of innocent lives, the repercussion of which may not be good for the nation in the nearest future. Hence, the situation calls for Allah’s guidance and intervention.

    “A critical overview of these repeated acts of absurdity clearly depicts to the discerned, that the manner in which the SSS Spokesperson handles reportage of security issues needs serious introspection, because the spokesperson concludes matters before investigation.

    “The case of the Nasarawa State man found with dynamite in Radio House is still fresh in the memory, as Nigerians are appreciably learned and cannot be taken for a ride. Therefore, the spokesperson should be called to order.

    “It is most likely as reported by the media that the Apo victims were not Boko Haram members as claimed by the spokesperson.

    “More amazing also is the news going round that the military were said to be overwhelmed by insurgents and driven away prior to the Benisheikh attacks. Hence, the use of the military regalia by the insurgents. This act calls for sober reflection, if it is confirmed to be true. And it tells Nigerians the sorry state of the security operatives in Nigeria.

    “As always, the JNI calls on all concerned to fear God in their dealings and put a stop to spilling of blood for no just cause.

    “2015 is two years ahead, but regrettably, on frequent basis, innocent souls are being maimed, killed or massacred for no reason. Therefore, the JNI calls on the Muslim Ummah to rise above the tide by engaging in supplications to Allah, the Most High to bring to an end these acts of barbarism.

    “JNI calls on the Federal Government and the respective State Governments concerned to constitute a Commission of Enquiry over these matters. We however send our condolences to all the affected State Governments and their good people.

    “JNI however reiterates its earlier call that rules of engagement should be professionally employed by the Nigerian Army, the Police, SSS and other security agencies in curbing insurgencies, so as to reduce collateral damages recorded in such types of upheavals”.

  • Kano blast aimed at causing chaos – JNI

    Kano blast aimed at causing chaos – JNI

    The Muslim umbrella body in the north, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) said on Wednesday that Monday’s suicide bombing of the New Road Motor Park in Kano may be a ploy to plunge the north and by extension, the entire country into crisis beginning with Kano.

    Reacting to the incident which claimed several lives, the Secretary General of the JNI, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the attack on the motor park is worrisome and asked government at all levels to do everything possible to nip such incidences in the bud and bring the masterminds to justice.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, the JNI also condemned the killing of a female Divisional Police Officer in Kaduna while calling for calm and restraint over the unfortunate incidence.

    The statement reads: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, once again condemned in the strongest terms the bomb blast that occurred in Kano.

    “This new trend of bombing at a Motor Park, and the killing of innocent people that gather to travel to various destinations, at New Road Motor Park, Sabon-Gari, Kano, Kano State on Monday, March 18, 2013 is disturbing and alarming.

    “Similarly, the gun shot at a female Police Officer, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kaduna, on Tuesday, March 19, 2013,is also condemned. We therefore, call for calm and restraint. The situation is very worrisome, and calls for more concerted efforts and strategies of averting such ugly situations.

    “Therefore, the JNI once more called on governments at all levels to as a matter of urgency nip in the bud future re occurrence and the perpetrators of these barbaric acts be brought to face the wrath of the law. As human lives are sacred and must be treated as such, in line with the teachings of the revealed books.

    “More so, our concern is why was the park targeted? It seems there is a design to set the entire north on crises and by extension, the whole country, starting with Kano, after witnessing relative peace in the region.”

     

  • JNI kicks against removal of Jaji commanders

    •Warns against politicisation 

     

    The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday queried the redeployment of the Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air Vice- Marshall Abdullahi Kure and his counterpart at the Infantry Centre and School (ICS), Major-Gen Muhammad D. Isa.

    This followed the bombing within the military formation.

    In a statement in Kaduna yesterday by its Secretary-General, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the JNI said the redeployment of the two officers and their replacement with non-Muslim officers has a religious connotation.

    The statement said the fact that the “two officers who were removed were Muslims and replaced by non-Muslims makes any discerning observer to be suspicious.”

    “We make bold to state that any attempt at politicising security in Nigeria will worsen our security situation.

    “It will also polarise the military and the security system along religious and ethnic divide.”

    The statement reads: “The attention of the headquarters of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has been drawn to a report that the Defence Headquarters redeployed the Commandant of the Armed Forces and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Kure and the Corps Commander, Infantry Jaji, Maj-Gen, Muhammad D. Isa.

    “We reiterate our condemnation of the blasts and emphasise the need for thorough investigations.

    “We want to state that the removal of the two officers does not speak well of the military.

    “We cannot comprehend the use of two different approaches to addressing the same issue.”