The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has expressed concern over raising insecurity across Nigeria, calling on the Federal and state governments to take urgent and decisive measures to protect citizens.
The JNI, in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, said the situation
has continued to cause fear, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.
The organisation said the situation was particularly disturbing despite sustained military and security operations across various theatres of the country.
It expressed concern over recent incidents in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Gombe, Kogi, Benue and Plateau states, among others.
JNI said the developments required urgent attention, noting that innocent citizens continued to be killed, abducted from their homes and highways, displaced from their communities and subjected to psychological trauma.
It also commended the efforts and sacrifices of the Armed Forces, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), Civilian Joint Task Forces and other lawful security formations.
The organisation, however, called for stronger intelligence gathering, improved coordination among security agencies, adequate equipment, effective border control and better welfare for security personnel.
JNI also called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, urging authorities to shift from predominantly reactive operations to intelligence-led preventive measures.
It recommended the identification and dismantling of terrorist and bandit camps, disruption of their arms and logistics networks, stronger inter-agency intelligence sharing and effective control of the country’s porous borders.
The organisation further urged authorities to strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities, schools, highways, markets and places of worship, while improving community-based intelligence and ensuring that vigilante groups operated within the law.
On illegal mining, JNI called for lawful, coordinated and humane enforcement, with a clear distinction between legitimate artisanal miners and criminal networks.
It also advocated credible monitoring systems for detention facilities to ensure that persons in state custody were protected from abuse, neglect and avoidable loss of life.
On the reported death of 37 persons in NSCDC custody in Niger State, JNI described the incident as deeply disturbing and called for a transparent, independent, thorough, timely and credible investigation.
It welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to institute an independent investigation and suspend officers connected with the incident pending the outcome of the process.
JNI, however, cautioned against prejudging the investigation, saying responsibility must be established on the basis of evidence, due process and the rule of law.
The organisation condemned the killing and abduction of innocent citizens, regardless of their ethnic, political, religious or geographical identity.
It said there could be no justification for terrorism, banditry, armed criminality, kidnapping, destruction of homes and livelihoods, cattle rustling, sexual violence, intimidation or the use of violence to displace citizens from their communities.
JNI also called on the government to ensure that no community was left at the mercy of armed criminals and that citizens did not become accustomed to living under the threat of abduction, killing and displacement.
The organisation urged authorities to provide medical, psychological and social support to victims of kidnapping, terrorism and banditry after their release.
It further called on Muslims across the country to intensify prayers, Istighfar, Qiyam al-Layl, Sadaqah and other acts of worship for Allah’s mercy and protection over Nigeria.
JNI urged Imams, Ulama, Islamic organisations and Muslim communities to devote portions of their Friday sermons, congregational prayers and personal supplications to the security challenges facing the nation.
It prayed for the souls of those killed in terrorist attacks, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence, as well as for the safe release of persons still in captivity.
The organisation also prayed for the injured, displaced and traumatised victims, the families of those who died in NSCDC custody in Niger and security personnel confronting terrorists and criminal elements across the country.
JNI said the frequency of attacks should not be allowed to become normalised, stressing that sustainable national development was impossible when farmers could not safely access their farms, children could not attend school without fear and travellers could not confidently use highways.
It therefore urged all relevant authorities to treat the security situation with the highest level of urgency, seriousness and national coordination.
The organisation prayed for an end to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of bloodshed in Nigeria.