The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has strongly condemned ongoing attempts to link the entire Muslim community in Nigeria to the country’s prevailing security challenges, including kidnapping and banditry.
​In a statement issued to commemorate Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the council decried what it described as intentional religious profiling, labeling the narrative as false, misleading, and profoundly unfair.
​The NSCIA emphasized that isolating a specific religious group for the criminal actions of a few misrepresents the true tenets of Islam and undermines national unity. According to the apex Islamic body, the overwhelming majority of Nigerian Muslims are peace-loving citizens who are actively dedicated to the development, economic growth, and social progress of the nation across all sectors.
​”Such religious profiling is false, misleading, and unfair to the overwhelming majority of peace-loving Muslims who contribute to national development across all sectors,” the statement read.
​The council used the occasion of Democracy Day to urge media houses, public commentators, and political leaders to refrain from using divisive rhetoric that could inflame religious tensions. Instead of pointing fingers at faith communities, the NSCIA urged stakeholders to view insecurity as a collective national challenge that requires a united front, effective governance, and robust security strategies to overcome.
​The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of the council’s commitment to interfaith harmony, national peace, and the democratic progress of Nigeria.
