NSCIA condemns Yobe cleric’s killing, flays handling of Gen. Alkali’s murder

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Wednesday condemned Friday’s killing of a Muslim cleric in Yobe State, Sheik Goni Aisami Gashua, by two suspected soldiers, John Gabriel and Adamu Gideon.

The council, in a statement by its Deputy Secretary General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, demanded the prosecution of the perpetrators.

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“While appealing to Muslims to have faith in the military authorities and the judiciary in thoroughly investigating the murder and bringing the perpetrators to justice, we urge them not to read religious motives into the incident as others would do.

“We are not like them. Since we come from Allah and we shall all return to Him and no soul would taste death except with His leave, the Ummah should rest assured that the perpetrators will come to judgment. Muslims should therefore remain calm as they join us in praying that Allah grant him and others like him Aljannah Firdaos,” the NSCIA said.

It expressed disappointment in the federal government’s handling of the murder of late Maj-Gen. Idris Alkali, who was killed in Jos, Plateau State, while on his way to Bauchi State in 2018.

“Up till this moment, we’ve not heard what became of his killers. While we sue for justice in the case of Sheikh Aisami, we charge the federal government to ensure that the killers of Gen. Alkali are brought to face the wrath of the law,” Shehu said.

He commended the judiciary over a death sentence for Pastor Erinmole Adetokunbo and his accomplice, Adedoyin Oyekanmi, for beheading a seven-year-old Muslim boy, Kazeem Rafiu, in Lagos State.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court had, on August 9, sentenced Adetokunbo and Adedoyin Oyekanmi to death for beheading Rafiu and using his head for rituals in a church at Ikorodu.

He said: “Many Muslims felt beheading a Muslim boy for church rituals is distasteful and provocative enough for NSCIA to have condemned Christianity and the Christians. Such Muslims, who expect NSCIA to adopt divisive propaganda approach of others, fail to realise that two wrongs do not make a right.”