Kaduna Imams decry rising insecurity, kidnapping

The Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna has said kidnapping and other crimes affect all Nigerians, without prejudice to religion or tribe.

Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna, the Council, through its Chairman, Sheikh Ibrahim Nakaka and his Secretary, Yusuf Arigasiyu, said kidnapping had become a national security challenge, and criminals and their victims cut across ethnoreligious divides.

The statement read: “For instance, along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Road alone, between June 22 and July 30, 2019, over 55 persons were kidnapped and over 20 persons killed, including five Nigerian Air Force and Army personnel, according to news reports.

“Specifically, the majority of the citizens killed and kidnapped along Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, and Abuja-Kaduna roads and the border towns with Niger, Katsina and Zamfara States were Muslims.

“However, we never viewed the unfortunate situation from a religious angle. In fact, we have always condemned the act of criminality and have called on the state and Federal Governments to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, irrespective of where they are or how they worship…”