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The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has come out to defend Dr. Muhammed Nazif Yunus, a lecturer of Islamic Studies at Kogi State University, who was recently paraded by StateSecurity Service as member of the Boko Haram, insisting that he should be freed.
Secretary General of the umbrella Islamic body, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement in Kaduna today, called on the authorities concerned to revisit their position “on that apparently innocent person and grant him his fundamental freedom.”
The statement recalled that it is a known fact that even ordinary members of Boko Haram hardly deny their connection to their ideology, adding that it would be doubtful if a whole ‘spiritual leader and recruitment officer’ of the group would shed tears while denying any link to that ideology.
“It would sound contradictory also that a leader of Boko Haram would still maintain his position as a University lecturer while the first requisite for one to be a member of Boko Haram is to abandon anything connected with Boko.
“Dr. Nazif has denied the allegation in the strongest term asserting his position as a strong opponent of both the ideology and methodology of Boko Haram. Those who know him have affirmed that he is peace loving, gentle and kind and a strong antagonist of Boko Haram. His friends and colleagues have testified that they have been engaged in several efforts together with him to halt the Boko Haram ideology.
JNI said that after thoroughly investigating the antecedents of the Doctor, it finds it imperative to call on the authorities concerned to revisit their position on that apparently innocent person and grant him his fundamental freedom.
It stressed that while re-echoing its strong condemnation against all forms of terrorism, “we want to stress that arresting innocent and peace loving people and subjecting them to humiliation and physiological torture would instill doubts in the minds of Nigerians regarding the sincerity of our security personnel in their fight against violent extremism. Nigerian securities should conduct their statutory assignments with utmost professionalism and be careful in handling issues related to Boko Haram. We would not like a situation where, after applauding the successes so far recorded by the securities in halting violent extremism, Nigerians would be forced to lose the confidence they have in the security.”
The umbrella Islamic body used the opportunity to call on all Muslims to always be law abiding, shun all dissident activities.
“Muslims all over the country are also urged to pray for the quick release of Sheikh Muhammad Nazif. May the Almighty Allah grant him the ability to be patient in this trying period. May He prevent all innocent people from similar trial. May Allah restore peace and stability to our dear nation.”
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