The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yobe killings

  • NSCIA condemns Yobe killings

    The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) yesterday condemned the killing of 41 students in Yobe by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Council described spilling of innocent blood as un-Islamic.

    The NSCIA, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the insurgents are not Muslims, even if they claim to be.

    The statement said: “For the umpteenth time, Nigerians and other citizens of the world were utterly galled and devastated by the news of death and destruction on the eve of Nigeria’s 53rd Independence anniversary.

    “The tragedy was said to have been unleashed by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, on Sunday. No group or person, militant or terrorist, should take pleasure in brutal elimination of innocent lives.

    “The attacks on the College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State, which resulted in the death of scores of innocent students and injury of many others were sadistic, anachronistic and un-Islamic.

    “There is no justification for such murder in any religion, especially Islam, the religion of peace for which it is the fastest growing faith in America and Europe.

    “The NSCIA in the strongest terms condemns the attacks and the attackers while wishing the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss. The Council also sympathises with the Government and good people of Yobe State while it urges all Nigerians to be united and resolute in unmasking and fighting evil in whatever guise it appears.

    “ It is a notorious fact that, from its emergence to date, overwhelming majority of the victims of the Boko Haram malady are innocent helpless Muslims, thus our prime concern is the halting of this heinous crime rather than hustling for compensation since the affliction is unquantifiable.”

    The statement added: “The Council reiterates that Islam denounces terrorism and terrorists are not Muslims even if they claim so. One does not become a citizen of a country by making claims but by meeting some conditions.

  • Yobe killings beyond realm of humanity – Tambuwal

    Yobe killings beyond realm of humanity – Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday said the killing of 41 students at the College of Agriculture, Gujba, in Yobe State, has gone beyond the realm of humanity because no reason can justify such dreadful acts.

    The Speaker described the killings, coming barely two months after a similar incidence at the Government Secondary School, Mamudo, also in Yobe State, as ignoble, wicked and horrendous.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, the Speaker tasked security agencies to redouble their efforts and change their tactics especially now that those engaged in the killings have increased their attacks on softer targets.

    He said the only way to console the families of the victims and Nigerians is by fishing out perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them justice.

    Tambuwal said, “We in the House of Representatives feel the grief and pain of the families of the victims. In this their hour of need, we will stand with them hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. We want to assure them that as brothers, we will continue to confront the threats of terror confronting our nation, and we know we will come out stronger, and victorious.”

    While expressing sympathy with the families of the victims, he urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and help security agencies with useful information that will help to secure their areas.