Onitsha Mayhem: Sultan Warns Muslims against Retaliation

Onitsha Mayhem: Sultan Warns Muslims against Retaliation

Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday urged Muslims in the country to resist the temptation of retaliating the last Wednesday's attacks on Muslims and the Central Mosque of Onitsha, Anambra State.

Addressing a press conference on behalf of the NSCIA in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday on the Onitsha mayhem, the   Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged Muslims to consider the perpetrators as criminals and not representative of any ethnic or religious group.

According to him, "The NSCIA is fully aware of the development and is working round the clock to put the situation under control. Muslims are warned against the antics of those who seek to whip up religious sentiments to further their clandestine political motives.

"Vengeance is for Allah and Muslims should exercise maximum restraint in these trying times.

"We call on Muslim brothers and sisters not to embark on reprisals attacks on Christians and their places of worship in any part of Nigeria. We are already engaged in discussions with various security and relevant government agencies to forestall further aggravation of the situation.

"We also call on all religious and interfaith organisations across the country to step up their peace-building initiatives in order to support the government and strengthen the enabling climate, peace and good relationships.

"In addition, we want to request all Imams and Muslim scholars to cooperate with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to douse the tension created by the unfortunate incidence.”

Oloyede expressed distressed the unfortunate and unprovoked attacks on the Central Mosque of Onitsha, adding that the perpetrators of the dastardly acts, which culminated in the loss of lives and burning of trucks owned by a prominent Muslim businessman only sought to provoke inter-religious crises and thereby getting the country further embroiled in needless bloodletting.

He, however, appealed to the federal government and the relevant security agencies to take urgent and appropriate steps to safeguard the lives of Muslims brothers and sisters and any other vulnerable community living in any part of the country.

The Muslim leader pointed out that: "In line with our religious injunctions, preserving a single life is similar to preserving the lives of the whole of humanity. We should not allow the current unfortunate development to negatively affect interfaith relationship between Muslims and Christians in this country which is needed for the achievement of peace and development of our nation.

"In the same vein, we want to appeal to various groups to always resort to the use of the appropriate channels provided by the constitution, the law and our democratic structure for resolving any grievances.

"We also call on the government to investigate the incidences surrounding the killings and wanton destruction of the mosque in Onitsha and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We pray for God’s continued guidance and support of our leaders and the citizens of Nigeria in the effort towards building a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

"Importantly, Muslims are enjoined to heed the call of Allah by upholding the virtues that guard against the demolition of “monasteries, synagogues and mosques in which Allah is much mentioned (Q 22:40).

“They should remember that the position of Islam is that the unsavoury development requires reflection. The consequences of swallowing the bait of drawing Muslims into the hideous agenda would only be disastrous. Therefore, the key words are patience, steadfastness, discipline, restrain and prayers.”