The umbrella Islamic organisation, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has lamented the killings of scores of Borno farmers by the terrorists, Boko Haram, in a cautious statement.
The United Nations says at least 110 farmers were cowardly slaughtered by the Islamist group. The Nigerian military claimed the deaths were 43, while Boko Haram announced that they hacked 78 rice farmers.
The statement avoided blame on the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the service chiefs, but laden with lamentation. The secretary-general of the JNI, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, signed the statement.
The statement reads: “Unfortunately, the common man is caught in-between two contending phenomenon; when he goes to the farm, he gets killed and when he stays at home he dies of hunger.
“It should be known that this singular act of Zabarmari was a calculated attempt to instill fears among farmers and jeopardize the frantic efforts of returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their localities by the Borno state government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umar Zulum.
“JNI identifies with the government and people of Borno State, over the gruesome massacre of innocent rice farmers in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government, which was the height of bloodletting ever committed in recent history.
“Forty-three human beings as reported by the media were slaughtered without any intervention by the security forces in the area. The senseless act stands condemned in the strongest of terms.
“Wanton killings, acts of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, high rate of unemployment among the youths, rape and all forms of terrorism have now become the ‘New Trend’ in our communities. Nigerians have become so much terrified, as nowhere is safe; the home, the farms and the roads. For how long, would we continue to live a life in fear?”
“For how long, can we continue to wait in vain? For how long shall we continue to condemn acts of terrorism without any concerted efforts in ending it? For how long, would we continue to remain indolent? And for how long can we continue to remain hopeless in a precarious situation such as what we are in presently?” the statement queried.
The JNI urged Nigerian leaders to visit the affected communities because such a show of emotional solidarity would assuage the affected communities to have more confidence in their leaders, seeing that they are not left alone in their ordeal and would send strong signal to insurgents that the government is ready to go to any length to protect its people.
“We appreciate the tireless efforts of the Borno State Governor, His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum and once again call on the federal government to rise up to its responsibilities and do well beyond the traditional condemnation, as lip service(s) on security matters should stop.”
The JNI said the government should spare no genuine efforts to immediately provide support to all the affected communities, as many are now displaced, becoming internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their own land.
The group also asked Muslims to intensify prayer, especially the ‘Adhkar.’
“Muslims should eschew all forms of disobedience to Allah (SWT), repent and go back to the ways of the Lord of the universe, while Imams must not relent, to recommence the Qunootun-Nawazil (special prayers at calamitous periods in the last Raka’at of each obligatory prayer and non-obligatory prayers), seeking Allah’s intervention for an end to these repeated sad pogroms.”