Nigeria sliding into lawlessness –Sultan

Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III, on Sunday decried the killings in Bama in Borno State and Alakyo in Nasarawa State by insurgents.

Abubakar, also the President of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, noted that with the killings in Bama and Lafia, it had been shown that the nation was sliding gradually into lawlessness.

The Bama and Lafia incidents mostly involved security agents.

A statement on behalf of the Sultan by the JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, on Sunday in Kaduna described the incidents as quite “unfortunate, regrettable and condemnable.”

It cautioned all and sundry to be wary of happenings around their vicinity and inform authorities of doubtful persons and events, just as it urged Nigerians to give unflinching support to the Federal Government Amnesty Committee to tackle the insecurity in the North and the country at large.

The statement also implored law enforcement agencies to ensure that the rules of engagements were professionally employed in curbing insurgencies so as to minimise collateral damages.

It read, “The JNI and the Sultan lament this sorry state of affairs in strongest terms. The nation seems to be gradually sliding into lawlessness, leading to multiple losses of lives.

“The JNI, therefore, calls on all and sundry to be wary of happenings around them and take proactive measures by reporting to appropriate authorities doubtful persons and events.”

It added, “It is quite unfortunate, regrettable and condemnable that, after the unfortunate Baga massacre, which should have been the last of such attacks at these times, a more devastating attack would be unleashed on innocent citizens of Bama in Borno State, and would continue unabated for a number of days.”

Meanwhile, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian of God. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has enjoined Christians in the northern part of the country to be steadfast in the belief that Nigeria will overcome the security challenges facing the country.

Adeboye, who gave the admonition at the 2013 Northern Ministers and Workers Conference of the church at Redemption Camp, Kassa, Plateau State on Sunday, said on no account should they allow insecurity to separate them from God.

PUNCH