9th
December, 2021
PRESS RELEASE :
KILLINGS ENDANGER SULTANATE
– MURIC
The recent spate of killings in the North
West has attracted the attention of an Islamic human rights advocacy
organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). While appreciating the efforts
of the security agencies and their sacrifices, the group called on them to flush
out bandits from Sokoto State and make the protection of the Sultanate a major
priority.
This was made known in a press release
issued on Thursday, 9th December, 2021 by the director and founder of
MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads:
“Bandits
on Tuesday, 7th December 2021, killed 21 people in an
attack on a passenger vehicle in Sokoto State. Some reports put the number of
those killed at 43. The bandits shot at the travellers and burned them beyond
recognition. Only nine survived out of thirty passengers. The gruesome attack
occurred in Angwan Bawa, Sabon Birni Local Government. (https://www.channelstv.com/2021/12/07/bandits-attack-sokoto-travellers-kill-18-persons/).
“We commiserate with the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the
Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, OFR, mni, the entire members
of the Sokoto Sultanate Council and the good people of Sokoto State.
“The constant occurrence of attacks, the high death toll and the
boldness of the unscrupulous elements give us serious cause for concern if
reports of earlier killings are anything to go by.
“For example, 60 people were killed in Sabon Birnin Gobir Local
Government when bandits attacked Garko, Dan Adua, Kuzari and Kafi in Gwadabawa
Local Government on 28th May, 2020 (https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/media-52830860).
“Tragedy struck again when another 120 innocent citizens were killed on Sunday
17th October, 2020 in Gorony market, Sokoto (https://punchng.com/senate-mourns-120-nigerians-killed-by-bandits-in-sokoto-market/).
Again, 43 people were killed in Goronyo market, north of Sokoto on 21st
October, 2021 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/18/gunmen-kill-dozens-in-nigerias-troubled-northwest).
“Less than a month later, the criminals killed 15 people on 15th
November, 2021 (https://guardian.ng/news/15-killed-in-gunmen-attacks-in-sokoto/).
They killed 12 in Illela and 3 in Goronya.
“It is our contention that most of the killings in Sokoto are unreported
while the high death toll is usually mulled so as not to create panic among the
populace. The Muslim Rights Concern is therefore gravely concerned. We are
burying victims everyday. We have cried so often and so much that our sockets
are drained and tears no longer flow from our eyes. Enough is enough. The time
to stop the killings is now.
“MURIC berates those who
give the outside world the impression that Christians are being killed in
Nigeria. 99% of those being killed in the North East by Boko Haram insurgents
are Muslims while the same percentage applies to victims of bandits in the
North West. Both geo-political zones are heavily populated by Muslims. So where
are Christians being killed and by who?
“Even the International Crisis Group reported that more than 8,000 people
were killed in ten years in the North West alone (https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/media-52830860).
We are also not unaware that the North West became the target because bandits
have been relocating to the North West because of the intensity of military
onslaught on them in the North East.
“While we appreciate the efforts of the security agencies in stemming
the tide of insecurity in the North East, we urge them to flush out bandits from Sokoto State and make
the protection of the Sultanate a top priority. Let the slogan for the North
West operation be ‘To keep the Sultanate intact is a task that must be done’.
“We charge the Federal Government (FG) to continue
to give the military the necessary backing it requires to push back the bandits
and take the battle to their comfort zones.
“In
view of increasing challenges emerging from all parts of the country, it is
becoming glaring that the Nigerian Army needs more personnel. We therefore call
on FG to allow the army to recruit more soldiers. We urge the National Assembly
to cooperate with the executive if legislation becomes necessary to allow
conscription into the armed forces. All options must be on the table.
“The Muslim Rights Concern is deeply
concerned about the intensity and frequency of attacks in the North West,
particularly in Sokoto, seat of the Khilafah (Caliphate). We attach great importance to the safety of the leadership of more than 150
million Nigerian Muslims.
“It must be emphasised that
the Sultan’s sphere of influence goes beyond Nigeria as millions in sub-Sahara
Africa look unto him for leadership, inspiration and guidance. The Nigerian
military must therefore ensure that nothing happens to the Sultan. Sokoto must
be turned into an impregnable fortress.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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