The Niger State Government has disclosed that its decision to evict the Madinatu Mahhaedenu Hamdallah Islamic sect in Lapai area of the state was not an operation meant to violate the constitutional rights of those affected but for security of lives and property.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Israel Ebije, in Minna on Wednesday, the government insisted that its decision was based on security report on the activities of the sect, which was capable of igniting security challenges in the state.
Ebije said: “The politicization of the matter is unfortunate and an act capable of encouraging the spread of sectarian groups that have octane-loaded propensity to ignite problem in the society.
“The need to react on the eviction of the sect is based on a published reaction by a coalition group based in Kaduna questioning the rationale behind the eviction. The group has only acted ignorantly on the matter.”
Ebije intimated that the sect aside its un-Islamic preaching was beginning to challenge the authority of the Emir of Lapai, a development unacceptable to the people and capable of causing trouble.
He added that the condition of members of the sect in their makeshift camp was not hygienic and could lead to life threatening epidemic.
Ebije intimated that the reason for the government’s action was because the sect has tendencies of becoming violent in their unethical religious preaching, which is on account of uninformed solidarity and wasted sentiment on issues that should ordinarily be handled with the seriousness it deserves.
According to Governor Babangida Aliyu’s spokesman: “It is indeed unfortunate to politicise security issues. As a responsible government, the Muazu Babangida Aliyu administration has decided to place security top-most on its agenda. The attitude of the state government in this direction is yielding results and no amount of sentiments will distract it.
“Earlier eviction of Darul Salam sect in Mokwa was very timely as some of them later joined the dreaded Boko Haram sect. Let me therefore emphasis that it is the community that raises concerns over behaviours of strange sectarian activities before security operatives are called to act in Niger state.”
Ebije therefore stated that the government will continue to handle security issues with the seriousness it deserves adding: “All the operations leading to dislodgement of deadly sects from the state are based on fears from communities, and as a responsible government, the safety of the people is paramount to us.”
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