The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has frowned at the renewed upsurge of violence been perpetrated by IPOB and has given full support to the military in stemming the menace been perpetrated by IPOB.
The group stated this in a statement signed by the deputy secretary general, Prof. Salisu Shehu,lamenting the atrocities of the group and stressing that it was worrisome the way the group is going about its activities describing its actions as “ lawless and defiant”
It also lamented the fact that the leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu, has violated all the terms of his bail condition and has been the cause of the escalation of violence in the country particularly in the Southeast.
While condemning in strong terms the violence been perpetrated by the group to Muslim communities especially northerners, the council lambasted the activities of the group stressing that the activities of the group need to be checkmated to restore peace back to the country.
It said: “Reports reaching the NSCIA from the South-East and some parts of the South-South particularly Abia and Rivers states indicate that IPOB has been out on a campaign of rampage and indiscriminate violent attacks on Muslim communities especially northerners. The door-to-door and vehicle-to-vehicle manhunt of Muslims for the kill in Umuahia and the unprovoked wholesome attack of Muslims in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State demonstrate the extent to which IPOB can go in terms of viciousness and savagery against fellow peace-loving Nigerian citizens.
“The NSCIA hereby condemns these acts of violence and rampage being perpetrated by IPOB and warns that unless IPOB is properly dealt with and its activities completely stopped, they portend great threat to peaceful coexistence in the country and its unity. The NSCIA therefore, calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the State Governments in the South-East and all the State Governments in all the other five geo-political zones in the country and the security agents and forces to take proactive measures and to set all necessary machineries for responsive and effective interventions to forestall escalation of the violence and its spread to other parts of the country.”
While commending the army and the Southeast governors for calling the group a terrorists group and proscribing its activities, the council stated that the governors can do more by taking stocks of all the destruction of lives and property loss in the crisis and as a matter of justice, ensure that the victims are duly compensated.
It also urged all Muslim faithful to shun any form of reprisal attacks and to embrace peace at all times.
The Eagle Online reports that the National Islamic Council of Islamic Affairs is chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
