Muslims At The Receiving End Of Boko Haram Attacks – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jama’atu Nasri Islam, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, on Monday condemned in very strong terms, the bombing of a bus station in Nyanya area of Abuja by suspected Boko Haram members.

The duo prayed that God would expose the perpetrators of the heinous act that claimed at least 71 lives, injured over 124 and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

They spoke at the opening ceremony of the JNI Central Council meeting in Kaduna yesterday.

While the Sultan voiced concern over the continued killings of innocent Nigerians, he noted that Muslims were the most affected by the activities of the sect.

He said, “Muslims are at the receiving end, more Muslims are being killed.

“We condemn the bombing in strong terms and pray that Allah will expose the perpetrators in the nearest future”.

On the part of the people, he said, “There is the urgent need for the government to come to the aid of innocent Nigerians, who are always victims of the attacks and bombings”.

Sultan Abubakar stressed that if there was anything the government thought the leadership of the Islamic body could do to halt the spate of killings, they were ever willing to offer assistance.

“If the government thinks there are things to be done on religious line to stop the killings, we are 100 percent ready, but we must put aside sentiments of all kinds. We commiserate with all those who lost their lives in all of the insurgencies”, said Sultan.

In his remarks, Gov. Yero said the only solution to the killings was prayer, enjoining Nigerians “to turn to God in prayers and seek for forgiveness”.

He added that both religious and traditional rulers across the region (North) have a major role to play in finding a permanent solution to the continued killing by the insurgent group

He said, “The burden of expectations on the JNI is huge, both from the government and the ordinary citizens of our great country. While government expects this organisation to play a more active role in the process of resolving the current state of insecurity in some parts of the country, ordinary Nigerians, especially Muslims, look up to the JNI as a beacon of hope in resolving their numerous socio-economic challenges”.