Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and other Muslim leaders in the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), of which he is President-General, have been left dazed by the latest round of violence in the troubled Borno State in Nigeria’s North-East.

This was disclosed in a statement issued yesterday from the headquarters of JNI in Kaduna, in which the umbrella body of Nigerian Muslims condemned the continuing violence and tasked government to bring it to an end. Signed by JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the statement came three days after suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a surprise attack on a mosque in Konduga, a town located near the Borno capital, Maiduguri, killing over 60 worshippers, according to some reports.

The statement entitled “Bama, Malam Fatori, Konduga – Near Maiduguri Attacks” reads:

As always, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, received with consternation and daze the senseless killings that occurred at Police and Military Formations in Bama, Malam Fatori, Borno State, which was climaxed with a senseless killings of innocent worshippers during early dawn prayers at a mosque in Konduga village some kilometres away from Maiduguri, Borno State. The barbaric, callous, obscure and incomprehensible attack is utterly condemnable in its entirety especially that over fifty persons were lost and the sacred month of Ramadan had just ended!

As with previous similar cases, the sporadic gun shots that ensued after the attacks and the setting ablaze of houses is very worrisome and calls for immediate investigation that must bring an end to these repeated acts of terror on innocent souls. We are indeed perplexed that with the State of Emergency currently in place at Borno State and with the visible security check points at every nook and cranny of the state, it is hardly believable that such dastardly acts could still occur unabated. Hence, the JNI is seriously perturbed by it and calls for curtailing the proliferation of small arms.

Inasmuch as there is the need for restraint and caution on the part of the Security men, in the affected areas, we are interested to know how the perpetrators gained access to the cordoned areas with such explosives and guns? Who were they? Why were they not prevented or arrested? What were the motives behind such repeated orchestrated heinous acts? Indeed there is much more than meets the eyes!

In the light of the above, we call on Governments at all levels to do everything possible as a matter of urgency to stop these evil acts of unleashing terror on innocent and peace loving souls, by restoring law and order. Above all, the restoration of use of GSM in Borno State should be a top most priority to those that matter, this is to facilitate security alert in situation where insecurity has wrecked unprecedented havoc against innocent citizens. Even if it be to some selected/strategic Government officials within the state.

In the mean time, as we commiserate with the families of the victims of those evil acts of terror and condole with the parents and guardians who lost their wards in the debacle. We call on all and sundry to continue praying for peace, progress and development of the nation. May the Almighty Allah grant the deceased forgiveness and mercy, while those that sustained injuries quick recovery, Amin. Our condolences also go to the Borno State Government, Their Royal Highnesses, the Shehu of Borno and Bama.

•Photo shows JNI leader, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar.

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