The apex Muslim organization in Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has condemned in strong terms the bombings and attacks, this week in Sokoto and Zaria, Kaduna State, expressing regret that they had been undertaken during the Ramadan fast.
The apex Muslim organization in Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has condemned in strong terms the bombings and attacks, this week in Sokoto and Zaria, Kaduna State, expressing regret that they had been undertaken during the Ramadan fast.
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Boko Haram yesterday claimed responsibility for the bombings, as well as in previous attacks in the Northern cities of Sokoto, Kano and Zaria.
In a press statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, JNI noted that during the Ramadan fast, some persons were bent on causing chaos and unrest to Muslims.
“We call on Nigerians to be security conscious, as security is the affairs of all,” the statement said. “We must as a nation rise above board to nip in the bud these re-occurring upheavals.”
In an email yesterday in which it claimed responsibility for the attacks, Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa denied that his group kills innocent Muslims.
“We only kill government functionaries, security agents, Christians and anyone who pretends to be a Muslim but engage in assisting security agents to arrest us,” he said. “The fact is the bottom line of our struggle is to set the Muslims free from enslavement. We only kill the unbelievers.”
[Full text of JNI’s press statement]:
“The Jama’atu Nasril Islam received with shock the unfortunate orchestrated multiple bomb blast and gun shootings that occurred in Sokoto, Kan, and Zaria in Kaduna. These call for sober reflection of our actions and inactions in Nigeria. At the time of Ramadan fast, some persons are bent on causing chaos and unrest to Muslims, we pray Allah, the Most High to forgive our death ones and grant quick recovery to the injured, amin. Indeed, the nation has taken seriously assailed by a number of tragedies in recent time: hence we use this avenue to condemn this dastardly and barbaric act of terror unleashed on the fasting Muslims and leave our affairs to God.
“Therefore, we call on Nigerians to be security conscious, as security is the affairs of all. We must as a nation rise above board to nip in the bud these re-occurring upheavals. Similarly, the JNI commiserates with the governments and people of Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna States over these incidents and call on government at all levels to device durable proactive measures that will protect the lives and properties of the citizenry. It is our prayer that Allah will grant us peace and tranquillity, and put to shame the evil doers.”
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