Encomium
Notable Islamic organisations, home and abroad, have condemned the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls, in a strong voice, insisting that the sect is not representing Islam.
‘We condemn this act of barbarism’ – The Sultan of Sokoto, ALHAJI SA’AD ABUBAKAR III
The abduction of about 200 final year secondary school female students in Chibok, Borno State as reported by the media is another shocking story regarding the unfortunate happenings in Nigeria, especially the north.
It is quite unfortunate and, in fact painfully confusing, that despite the state of emergency imposed on Borno State for a long time with the attendant huge amount of resources earmarked for security operatives, and despite the presence of uniformed security men at checkpoints which are strategically located at closed intervals, this horrific act could still happen.
We condemn this act of barbarism in the strongest terms and call on the authorities concerned to put all the needed efforts to free these innocent girls and get them continue their studies.
We sympathise with the victims and their teachers and families at this traumatising moment and pray that Allah will end their agony in the shortest possible time.
‘Boko Haram has never been an Islamic organisation’ – KALEJAIYE
The President (amir) of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Kaamil Kalejaiye has said: The spate of unjustified killings in our country is getting unbearable and Islam is always at the receiving end.
We condemn these killings, abductions and all forms of attack on citizens. We unequivocally condemn its perpetrators. Islam is a religion of peace and does not in any way have a confluence with killing, bombing, kidnapping and forcing people of other faiths into its fold.
If these were the methods used by Prophet Muhammed (SAW) to invite people to Islam, it would not have over one billion adherents worldwide.
Boko Haram has never been and will never be an Islamic group as long as its modus operandi entails killing of innocent people. The agenda of Boko Haram is only clear to its members and sponsors and I pray that sooner those behind it will be exposed.
Those who are trying to paint Islam bad and black will meet their waterloo very soon. We call on the Federal Government and all security agencies to go the extra mile in making sure that insecurity is brought to a bearable level if not totally eradicated.
He also advised that the photographs of the abducted girls be published so as to aid their search.
This incident has demonstrated the barbarism in these group and the need for everyone to take personal security serious as well as be vigilant. The use of modern security surveillance equipment, we believe, will go a long way in foiling these heinous and dastardly acts.
‘Conversion of the girls is shameful, cowardly and anti-Islam’
– Director, PROF. ISHAQ LAKIN AKINTOLA
We reject the purported conversion of the girls. It is cowardly, shameful, ridiculous and preposterous. It is sacrilege. We affirm authoritatively that such conversion does not hold water in Islam because a non-Muslim can only be converted on his or her own free will. Religion is borne out of personal conviction and no one can impose his religion on another one.
The fundamental teaching of Islam is love. Allah says, there is no compulsion in religion.
PROF. BIDMUS (Chief Imam, UNILAG)
Anything about Boko Haram, you leave it for the politicians to sort out, because it has nothing to do with Islam. It’s a political agenda. Imagine their name, Boko Haram, meaning, education is forbidden. This opposes Islam.
In Islam, education has no colour, that’s why Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said we should seek knowledge, even if it were to be in China. We are expected to seek education wherever, not necessarily in China, Britain, US, etc. It’s a bad definition for some people to tell us that the knowledge that is coming from the West is forbidden. The foundation of what we know today as Western education is from Islam, all the knowledge we have today is from Islam. There is nothing Islamic about Boko Haram.
My advice to our Christian brothers and sisters, is that they should not attribute Islam or the Muslims to Boko Haram. This is politics and it should be treated as such.
‘Nobody can force anybody to accept Islam’- THE CRITERION
THE Criterion, an organisation of Muslim women in business and professions, also condemned the activities of the sect. In a statement signed by the Amirah (female president), Hajia Rahmat Egbeyemi and Public Relations Officer, Hajia Idiat Salami, the group urged the government and people of Nigeria to dissociate the actions of the group from Islam.
Boko Haram preaches violence, illegal killings, kidnap and abduction, but Islam preaches peace, abhors violence, murder or misconduct of any sort. Nobody can force another person to become a Muslim. Islam cannot be spread by force or war but by self-conviction through preaching with wisdom.
Boko Haram prohibits education, abducts and maltreats female children but Islam adores and honours girls and women.
As mothers, passionate about children and women in particular, and humanity in general, we call on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to bring back our girls unhurt, stop this wanton loss of innocent lives and make concerted efforts to address the problems of corruption, youth unemployment and social injustice.
We all must agree to stop terrorism by ascribing it to Islam or any religion for that matter, and to stop denigrating and vilifying Islam by ascribing Boko Haram to it. Islam is a religion of peace. We must work together to reclaim our nation from those who want to destroy us. We can only do this when we recognise Boko Haram as our common enemy.
– RASHEED ABUBAKAR
