Democracy Day: NSCIA Warns Against Religious Profiling Amid Nigeria’s Security Crisis

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has used this year’s Democracy Day celebration to call for renewed national commitment to peace, security and inclusive development, warning against the growing trend of associating criminal activities with Islam and Nigerian Muslims.

In a press release signed by Mallam Abbas Jimoh, Public Affairs Officer of the Council on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day, the Council congratulates Nigerians on the country’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance while paying tribute to those who fought for constitutional rule and the entrenchment of democratic values.

The Council, led by its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, described June 12 as a reminder that democracy can only thrive where justice, accountability, inclusion and respect for human dignity are upheld.

While acknowledging the progress made since the return to democratic rule, the NSCIA expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation across several parts of the country, citing the continued incidents of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes that have claimed lives, displaced communities and disrupted economic activities.

The Council condemned all forms of violence and criminality, urging those involved in such acts to renounce their activities and embrace peace, while extending prayers and sympathy to victims and their families.

According to the Council, insecurity remains a collective national challenge requiring the cooperation of government, security agencies and citizens alike.

It stressed that Islam, like other revealed religions, does not permit the killing of innocent people, kidnapping, terrorism, banditry or any form of criminal conduct, rejecting attempts to associate such crimes with the Islamic faith.

The Council also expressed concern over what it described as persistent efforts by some individuals and groups, both within and outside Nigeria, to portray Nigerian Muslims as being linked to violent criminal activities.

It argued that such narratives are misleading and unfair to millions of law-abiding Muslims who continue to contribute positively to national development in different sectors of society.

The NSCIA further referred to the recent controversy surrounding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, noting that initial attempts were made to link the incident to Islam, Shariah and the Fulani ethnic group.

It pointed to subsequent developments and investigations, as well as observations made by media scholar Professor Farooq Kperogi, which challenged the earlier narratives and cautioned against spreading misinformation surrounding the incident.

According to the Council, those arrested in connection with the kidnapping were not identified as Fulani, contrary to early reports that circulated widely, reinforcing the need for greater caution before assigning ethnic or religious identities to criminal acts.

The NSCIA maintained that criminals should be identified by the offences they commit and prosecuted under the law, rather than allowing their actions to be used to stigmatise entire religious or ethnic communities.

It added that many Nigerian Muslims have themselves been victims of terrorism, insecurity and discrimination, making attempts to portray them collectively as perpetrators both unjust and harmful to national cohesion.

The Council therefore urged the media, public commentators and opinion leaders to exercise professionalism, fairness and accuracy in their reporting, warning that inflammatory narratives capable of deepening mistrust among Nigeria’s diverse communities should be avoided.

It also reiterated that criminality should never be given ethnic or religious colouration, arguing that such labels undermine collective efforts to combat insecurity and strengthen national unity.

The NSCIA commended the Federal Government, security agencies and community leaders for their ongoing efforts to restore peace across the country, while calling for greater collaboration among all stakeholders to tackle insecurity more effectively.

It concluded by praying for divine protection and success for members of the security agencies in safeguarding lives and property, while expressing hope that the sacrifices of those who struggled for Nigeria’s democracy would continue to inspire a more peaceful, united and prosperous nation.

SPONSORED

SPONSORED