Democracy Day: Nigerian Muslims face ‘Double Jeopardy’ over insecurity narratives — NSCIA
By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has expressed concern over what it described as the unfair association of Nigerian Muslims with insecurity, saying many Muslims are not only victims of violent crimes but are also wrongly labelled as perpetrators.
In a statement issued on Thursday to mark Democracy Day, the council denounced terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry while urging Nigerians to promote unity and adopt a more balanced approach when discussing security-related matters.
The statement, signed by the council’s Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, and issued under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, warned that attempts to connect Islam and Muslims with criminal activities undermine efforts to address insecurity.
According to the council, Nigerian Muslims continue to suffer from terrorism, persecution, and discrimination, yet are frequently and unfairly portrayed as being responsible for the very crimes that affect them.
The NSCIA lamented what it termed a “double burden,” noting that Muslims are often victims of violence while simultaneously facing false accusations and negative stereotypes.
The council also criticised what it described as ongoing efforts by certain individuals and groups, both locally and internationally, to link Muslims to crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
It stressed that such profiling unfairly paints millions of peaceful and law-abiding Muslims in a negative light despite their contributions to the nation’s growth and development.
Referring to the recent abduction of students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the council said some people hastily attempted to associate the incident with Islam and Shariah law before investigations were concluded.
The NSCIA stated that subsequent developments had disproved those allegations and vindicated Muslims against what it described as deliberate attempts at false criminalisation.
The council also cited an article by media scholar Professor Farooq Kperogi titled “Don’t Add Lies to the Terrorist Horror in Oyo,” arguing that tragic events should not be exploited through misinformation, speculation, or propaganda.
In addition, the NSCIA condemned ethnic profiling in crime reporting, noting that those arrested in connection with the Oyo kidnapping case did not fit the earlier narrative that the suspects were Fulani.
The council insisted that criminals should be identified based on their offences rather than their ethnic or religious backgrounds and should be prosecuted according to the law.
Reaffirming its stance against all forms of criminality, the NSCIA said insecurity continues to result in loss of lives, displacement of communities, destruction of livelihoods, and setbacks to national development.
It urged those involved in criminal activities to abandon violence and embrace peace, stressing that Islam, like other revealed religions, does not support murder, kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, or any form of unlawful conduct.
The council further called on journalists, analysts, and public officials to demonstrate professionalism, fairness, and accuracy when reporting security matters.
According to the NSCIA, attaching ethnic or religious labels to crimes only fuels division, mistrust, and tension, thereby weakening collective efforts to combat insecurity and achieve lasting peace.
Marking Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, the council described June 12 as a symbol of justice, accountability, inclusiveness, and respect for human dignity.
The NSCIA also applauded the Federal Government, security agencies, and community leaders for their continued efforts to address security challenges and appealed for stronger cooperation among all stakeholders to restore peace and stability across the country.
The council concluded with prayers for divine protection and strength for security personnel as they work to safeguard lives and property nationwide.