The umbrella body Nigerian Muslims, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has alleged a hiden agenda on the perpetrators of the attacks that killed innocent citizens in Borno on Saturday and in Kano yesterday.

In a statement released today in Kaduna, JNI, which is headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, described the attacks and previous ones as part of “a grand design to push the entire North into deeper crises and by extension the Nigerian federation.”

The statement signed by JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the association “received with bewilderment the news of the orchestrated multiple bomb blasts which were reported to have occurred yesterday night, at Sabon Gari, Kano, Kano State resulting in collateral damages and many lives lost. We strongly condemn the inhuman and ungodly act in its totality as it is reprehensible, and we equally call for calm and restraint. As it has always been our prayers, whatsoever is the intent/motive of the perpetrators of these contemptible acts, they will never succeed insha’Allah.”

Continuing, the statement said: “JNI is perplexed that this act of unleashing terror on human lives continued unabated, despite visible number of uncountable security check-points mounted all through Northern Nigeria. More worrisome is the fact that this beastly act of terror comes just 24 hours after unleashing same on fishermen and traders in Kaka and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State, which also claimed many innocent lives and lost of many properties worth millions of naira.

“These repeated acts call for concerted introspection, as they again point to the fact that there is the urgent need for proactive and effective ways of addressing these precarious security upheavals presently being witnessed in the country. JNI is also worried and cannot understand what is really happening? The perpetrators should be fished out and punished in accordance with the laws of the land.

“While we send our condolences to the families of the bereaved, the Government of Borno and Kano States, their Royal Highnesses, Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano, we once again call on all concerned as a matter of urgency to nip in the bud future re-occurrences, which we don’t pray for. As it is becoming more and more glaring to the right thinking person, there is a grand design to push the entire North into deeper crises and by extension the Nigerian federation.

“Therefore, we call on all Muslims to fervently engage in Du’a (prayer), that will bring an end to these nagging night mares of insecurity in our great country and may Allah, the Most High save us from the enemies of peace and development, wheresoever they may be, especially that we are in the most sacred days of Ramadan. Hence all Imams are to include this in their respective Al-Qunut (special prayers).”

•Photo shows JIN President-General, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar.