Muslim scholars, under the aegis of Supreme Council for Shar’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), have urged Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to come out of hiding and face the nation’s security apparatus, if his claims were true.
The Ulama also said the video clip was an evidence that the Federal Government’s fight against the insurgents had failed.
Addressing reporters yesterday, SCSN’s Secretary General Nafi’u Baba Ahmad reminded President Muhammadu Buhari of his campaign promise in 2015 to end Boko Haram insurgency.
The Muslim scholar urged him to match words with action.
He added: “Few days ago, Nigerians were rudely shocked by the release of a video clip by the leader of the Boko Haram, in which he confessed to the killing of a founding member of this Council, Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam (R) and issued threats to another member of the Council, who is also a serving minister.
“The Council observed that in the early years of this administration, the insurgency has deescalated to the barest minimum, which was commendable, but of recent, due to obvious security lapses, the insurgents are gradually gaining grounds, which is a sad development.
“The Council viewed the threats expressed by Shekau are not only directed at the minister specifically mentioned, but to the Ulama’ to silence the voices of Da’awah and intimidate the Ulama’.
“This has added another dimension to the challenge of tackling the security threat posed by the senseless deviant group, which has defied resolution, in spite of the oft repeated assurances by the government to end the insurgency.
“The very latest in this dreadful and unfortunate calamity happened just yesterday in Gwoza, where the Boko Haram bombed a mosque; all in the name of Islam…”
“Accordingly, the Council has resolved that it is time to call off Shekau’s bluff by challenging him to come out of hiding, accept a muqaabalah (intellectual challenge) on their crooked aqeedah (religious ideology) with the rest of the Ulama’ (Muslim scholars).
“Shekau should be bold enough to face the security forces, if he is truly the courageous leader of Boko Haram he claims to be.
“Shekau’s gleeful confession to the brutal murder of late Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam revealed his clear ignorance of the teachings of Islam, which he claims to champion.
In Islam it is a meritorious act to die as a martyr; and there are perhaps only few examples, at least in recent history, that equals the martyrdom of Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam; who was killed in cold blood, reciting the shahada, while leading the fajr (early morning) prayers on a Friday.
“The Council wishes to call on the President and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to note the unequivocal confession by the Boko Haram leader on the gruesome murder of Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam in 2007 is not only a threat to Muslim communities and their scholars, but is equally a threat to the entire nation for extending his threat to a Minister and the President of Nigeria… (The Nation)
