The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called on all parties involved in the Southern Kaduna crisis to exercise caution and restraint.
JNI’s Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu in a statement issued on Wednesday noted that ethnoreligious conflict is not easily manageable.
He then called on parties involved to rise to the occasion to forestall its recurrence in Kaduna State saying, “A stitch in time saves nine!”
He said, “JNI under the leadership of Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and its President-General observed carefully with serious concern the unfortunate unfolding events of blood-letting and serial killings, as well as the resultant inflammatory commentaries being aired which are utterly condemnable in their entirety.
“We strongly believe that the politically-driven crisis is being deliberately turned into ethno-religious conflict of worrisome dimension. Thus, it should, however, be noted that ethno-religious conflict isn’t easily manageable and hence, we must all rise to the occasion to forestall its recurrence in Kaduna State.”
He observed with dismay the unguarded utterances of some citizens including elder statesmen through the print, electronic and social media in instigating the security situation.
He urged the government to do more in tackling the issue, saying, “It is time that culprits be identified and punished so as to serve as a deterrent.”
He said it is disturbing that such violence could re-occur in the state despite peace efforts of Kaduna Peace Commission, the International Center for Interfaith Peace and Harmony (ICIPH), in collaboration with the JNI National Headquarters and the Christian Council of Nigeria.
