The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised the alarm over what it described as growing attacks on Islam and Muslims in the country, urging the Federal Government, security agencies and relevant institutions to act swiftly before the situation threatens national peace and unity.
The council, led by its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said Muslims had continued to exercise restraint despite repeated provocations, warning that such patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the council’s Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, the NSCIA said it remained committed to peaceful coexistence and national unity but insisted that justice must be served to victims of violence regardless of their religious affiliation.
The council stated that its commitment to peace had informed its silence in the face of what it called persistent attacks, baseless profiling and negative narratives against Islam and Muslims.
“This commitment necessitates silence and restraint despite unwarranted provocation, assault and baseless profiling of Islam and the Muslims in the country. It should be clear that restraint is not cowardice. But there is always a limit to endurance,” the statement said.
The NSCIA also expressed concern that many Muslims now feel excluded from key areas of public life while simultaneously being accused of seeking religious domination.
It frowned at comments made during a recent television programme by a former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), warning that such remarks could fuel religious tension if left unchecked.
The council urged security agencies and regulatory authorities to respond firmly to statements capable of disrupting public peace, insisting that the law should be applied fairly, irrespective of the religious identity of those involved.
The Islamic body also faulted attempts to link crimes to particular religious or ethnic groups, citing the recent kidnapping case in Oyo State.
According to the council, criminal investigations should be based strictly on evidence rather than assumptions rooted in religion or ethnicity, adding that the arrests made in the case reinforced the need to avoid hasty conclusions.
The NSCIA equally called on media organisations to uphold professionalism, fairness and balance when reporting sensitive issues capable of affecting interfaith relations.
The council further condemned the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, and his associate, Mallam Yakubu Isah, after what it described as a peace meeting in Benue State.
Describing the incident as disturbing, it demanded a thorough investigation and prosecution of everyone involved.
The NSCIA also lamented what it described as the declining representation of Muslims in some public appointments, saying the trend had heightened feelings of marginalisation within the Muslim community.
It recalled that previous political arrangements involving candidates of the same faith did not generate the level of controversy witnessed in recent years.
While reaffirming its commitment to peace, the council urged Muslims across the country to remain law-abiding and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions.
It, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure those behind the violent attacks in Kaduna and Benue states are arrested and prosecuted without delay.
“The NSCIA hereby calls on government to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes in Kaduna and Benue States are brought to justice, without delay and according to the laws of the land. Anything short of this is an invitation to anarchy,” the council warned.
The council also demanded investigations into allegations involving police officers in separate incidents concerning a female Muslim scholar and the late MACBAN chairman, insisting that due process and transparency must prevail.
It concluded by urging Nigerians of all faiths to reject divisive narratives and embrace dialogue, mutual respect and justice as the foundation for lasting national unity.
“Furthermore, the barrage of open assaults on the integrity of Islam and the Muslims in public spaces should be checked in the interest of peace and order. Enough is enough.”
