Muslims are baselessly profiled as perpetrators of insecurity in Nigeria – NSCIA

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) says Muslims and Islam are being profiled as perpetrators of insecurity in the country.

In a statement on Monday, signed by Abbas Jimoh, NSCIA’s public affairs officer, the council said Muslims have exercised restraint despite what it described as “unwarranted provocation, assault, and baseless profiling” of Islam.

The Muslim umbrella body condemned what it called the “bizarre and disparaging” statements made by Ayo Oritsejafor, former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), during an interview on Channels Television.

During the interview last Tuesday, Oritsejafor claimedthat “99.9 percent” of those making insecurity thrive in Nigeria are Muslims.

The council described the cleric’s remarks as “not only reckless and baseless but also irresponsible”.

“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its president-general, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, reiterates its commitment to peace and unity in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“This commitment necessitates silence and restraint despite unwarranted provocation, assault, and baseless profiling of Islam and the Muslims in the country. It should be clear that restraint is not cowardice. But there is always a limit to endurance.

“While it is obvious that Muslims are being marginalised in the public space in Nigeria, it is a paradox that there are still individuals bereft of conscience who still persistently accuse the obviously deprived Muslims of oppression and persecution simply because certain foreign interests in search of deceiving their evangelical support base are using that ploy to create confusion, incite unrest, penetrate and possibly dismember Nigeria.

“Some bizarre and disparaging statements by an extremist former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the promptings of a news anchor during a recent Channels Television programme that looked more like a well-rehearsed drama than an interview are not only reckless and baseless but also irresponsible.”

The council called on authorities to address the “barrage of open assaults on the integrity of Islam and the Muslims in public spaces”. (TheCable)