Muslim clerics in Ogun State are demanding swift action from the federal government to eliminate insecurity across Nigeria. The Progressive Muslim Cleric organisation made this plea on Tuesday during a press conference in Abeokuta.
Abdul Wasiu Akinyemi, the group's president, spoke during 1448 Hegira celebrations. He urged authorities to do far more in restoring peace for all Nigerians.
Akinyemi rejected suggestions that insecurity stems from a single ethnic group. He pointed to the 2010 Eagle Square bombing under President Jonathan as proof the threat has always been national.
"Evidence abounds that this is not tied to a single tribe," the Islamic scholar told reporters. He noted that kidnapping and terrorism predate the current trouble spots.
According to him, criminals change their identities to evade detection. "Even some southerners will change their names to a northern name, but it is only when they are caught that we realise," Akinyemi explained.
He stressed that both Muslims and Christians, men and women, feature in crime reports. "We read them on newspapers that this is Chinedu and Adamu that have gone to kidnap," he said.
Akinyemi also addressed what Islamic law prescribes for offenders. Shariah contains strict guidelines for handling bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, he noted.
"In Islam, as a religion, it has a standard for everything," the scholar explained. Shariah dictates specific punishments based on the severity of each crime.
For murder cases, he referenced the principle of "an eye for an eye." Life imprisonment represents the third tier of punishment under Islamic law, Akinyemi added.
Nigeria operates as a secular state, the cleric acknowledged during his remarks. Government must balance constitutional law with religious teachings from both Islam and Christianity.
"The federal government will have to balance the two," Akinyemi told the audience. He stressed that authorities must weigh constitutional provisions against religious perspectives from major faiths.
He called on officials to tackle insecurity decisively. "The onus is on the federal government to make sure that this problem of insecurity is tackled, is uprooted," the scholar insisted.
Nigerians deserve to live normal lives free from fear, according to Akinyemi. Government leaders must work harder, he added.
The 1448 Hegira celebration carried the theme "Voices in Myriad Pathways: From Migration to Civic Action." The event highlighted the significance of Prophet Muhammad's migration to Medina.
Akinyemi said Hijrah symbolises hope, resilience and transformation for believers. Early Muslims triumphed over severe hardship through faith, wisdom and collective action.
That unity established the foundation for a great civilisation, he noted. The Islamic scholar drew parallels between those historical struggles and contemporary Nigerian challenges.
