Boko Haram: Sultan Of Sokoto Calls For Prayers

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for continuous prayers for peace, unity and development of the country.

Abubakar made the call during a national preaching session organised by an Islamic group, the Jama’tu Izalatul Bidi’a Waikamatus Sunna (JIBWIS) in Kano on Sunday.

Represented by the Emir of Maradun in Zamfara, Alhaji Garba Tambari, , the Sultan decried the security challenges in the North, especially the North-East.

As traditional rulers, we have since called for continuous prayers against the insecurity that is gradually taking over some parts of the North,’’ Abubakar III said.

The News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying that prayers were necessary in order to ensure peace, unity and development of the country.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the Izala Islamic group, Sheik Sani Jingir, had called for collaborative efforts in the fight against insurgency.

“The fight against insurgency should be a collaborative one, especially among Muslim and Christian communities,’’ he said.

Jingir expressed concern over the killing of innocent persons in the country, and called on the government to do something urgently in order to check the ugly trend.

He said, “One cannot understand why human lives now become so valueless while those who are responsible for the protection of such lives seem to have failed in their responsibility.

“For the fact that lives have become so vulnerable while the insurgents kill at will, there is urgent need for coming together of the adherents of the two religions to rise against the perpetrators of the dastardly acts.

According to him, the activities of the Boko Haram are aimed at giving Islam a bad name so that Muslims will be the target of harassment, undue treatment and unnecessary persecution.

“We are aware that some powerful ungodly minds are behind the activities of the Boko Haram, in an effort to tarnish the beautiful names of Islam and its followers,’’ he said.

The chairman called for the establishment of a joint vigilance groups in all parts of the country to ensure peaceful coexistence.