Nigeria recently witnessed some killings linked to blasphemy of the Muslim prophet Mohammed – the first was a woman in Kano market, the second was a woman preacher in Abuja, and the latest on Monday, the killing of 8 persons in Zamfara State.
In a statement by its Secretary-General, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the JNI also called on state governments, particularly in the North to put in place measures to check repeated acts of blasphemy in the region and country.
JNI condemned the act saying, individual Muslims are not Jurists, but faithful in the practicing of the religion and therefore “don’t have the right to pass judgment on emotions.
It says, “his recurring matter is becoming tediously monotonous and remains condemned in the strongest terms. The unfortunate attacks that ensued thereafter are criminal and also stand condemned. We reiterate that human lives are sacred and therefore must be dignified. That has been the position of Islam.
“In the light of which we commend the efforts of the Zamfara State Government in nipping in the bud, the escalation of the crisis and equally the beefing up of security by the various security agencies, around Talata Mafara and its environs is also commendable.
“While we commiserate with all the affected victims of the unfortunate incidence, we call on respective predominant Muslim communities to be very wary and cautious of crafty art of blasphemy within or around their respective communities and learn to handle such matters with utmost caution no matter the provocations that may arise therefrom.
“Finally, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI calls on all and sundry to remain calm and avoid all actions that could jeopardize peaceful co-existence, especially at this material point of trying time of nation building.
