The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has expressed outrage over the worsening insecurity across the country, calling on the Federal Government to take decisive measures to protect lives and property.
In a statement signed by the Council’s Secretary General, Nafi’u Baba-Ahmad, and issued, the organisation said Nigerians continue to face daily reports of killings, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, banditry and other violent crimes despite repeated assurances from government officials.
The Council described the current security situation as alarming, citing recent mass abductions and attacks in Borno, Oyo, Niger and Zamfara states, as well as the kidnapping of a retired Army General and his wife in Katsina State.
According to the Council, the incidents exposed the vulnerability of communities already grappling with years of insecurity.
It noted that the reported attacks represent only a fraction of the tragedies experienced by Nigerians daily, many of which go unreported.
The Council referenced reports by security monitoring and human rights organisations indicating that thousands of Nigerians have been killed, abducted or displaced in recent months.
“Behind each statistic lies a human story, a life cut short or disrupted, a grieving family, and a community forced to live in fear, uncertainty, and insecurity,” the statement said.
The Council lamented that repeated appeals by patriotic citizens, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders for government intervention have yielded little improvement.
“Nigerians are tired of speeches, promises, condolences, committees, and official rhetoric not backed by action or results. What the nation needs now is decisive action and measurable results,” it stated.
SCSN stressed that security is not a favour granted to citizens but a constitutional obligation of government, warning that no administration can claim success while large parts of the country remain exposed to criminal elements.
“The time has come for those entrusted with leadership to either effectively perform their responsibilities or relinquish their positions to those who can,” the Council said.
While criticising the government’s handling of security, the Council commended members of the armed forces and other security agencies for their sacrifices and commitment to defending the country under difficult conditions.
“Our criticism is therefore not directed at these patriotic officers and personnel who remain committed to the defence of our country,” the statement added.
The Council also demanded greater accountability and transparency in the management of funds allocated to the security sector, noting that trillions of naira have been spent on defence, intelligence gathering, military operations, security infrastructure and logistics over the years.
According to the Council, Nigerians deserve to know how the resources have been utilised and why insecurity continues to worsen despite the huge expenditure.
It further argued that the security crisis requires bold and unconventional measures, saying incremental approaches and business-as-usual strategies have failed to produce the desired results.
The Council urged the government to mobilise all lawful national capabilities, including intelligence, technology, inter-agency cooperation, community participation, border security and rapid-response mechanisms, to combat criminal networks.
Warning that the country cannot continue on its current path, the Council said innocent citizens continue to pay the price of insecurity, while farmers, travellers and entire communities live under constant fear.
“The nation demands action. The time for excuses has passed. The time for demonstration of decisive and competent leadership is now,” the statement concluded.
