The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has condemned what it described as a renewed wave of “senseless killings, mass violence, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity” across the country, particularly in Northern Nigeria, warning that the situation reflects a frightening deterioration in national security.
In a press statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad and issued on Sunday, the council expressed deep anguish over the killing of more than 200 people in Woro village, Kiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where it said terrorists carried out a “horrific act of carnage,” killing women and children, razing homes and wiping out entire families.”
It said where officials fail to protect citizens, “both Islamic ethics and democratic norms demand accountability, including appropriate sanctions, removal from office, or honourable resignation.”
According to the statement, “The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria hereby expresses its deepest anguish and unequivocal condemnation of the renewed wave of senseless killings, mass violence, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity afflicting many parts of Nigeria,” the statement said.
According to the Council, the attack in Woro, alongside recent incidents in Kwara, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno and other parts of the country, “starkly underscores a frightening deterioration in the nation’s security situation and a growing disregard for the sanctity of human life.”
The SCSN stressed that Islam places the highest value on human life, describing the killing of innocent persons as one of the gravest crimes. Quoting Qur’an 5:32, the council noted that “whoever kills a soul… it is as if he had slain all of mankind,” adding that such acts are “an affront to the conscience of humanity.”
It also condemned attacks on innocent citizens “Muslims and Christians alike,” whether through banditry, terrorism, communal violence or other forms of criminality, warning that the persistence of such atrocities despite repeated assurances by authorities reflects “a disturbing failure of governance and the security architecture.”
“Nigerians should not be forced to live in perpetual fear within their own homes and communities,” the Council said.
Recalling its repeated engagements with authorities, the SCSN lamented what it described as a widening gap between constitutional obligations and actual performance, with devastating consequences for ordinary citizens.
While appreciating the sacrifices of security personnel, the council urged public office holders to curb lifestyles marked by “profligacy and excess” and refocus on the core responsibility of governance, especially security.
“Leadership is a trust, not a privilege for indulgence,” the statement said, adding that where officials fail to protect citizens, “both Islamic ethics and democratic norms demand accountability, including appropriate sanctions, removal from office, or honourable resignation.”
The Council further reiterated its categorical rejection of radicalism and violent extremism, describing such ideologies as “a betrayal of Islam and a gross distortion of its teachings,” and stressed that “there is absolutely no justification in Islam for terrorism, mass murder, kidnapping, or the targeting of innocent persons under any pretext.”
The SCSN extended condolences to families and communities affected by the Woro attack and other violence nationwide, praying for comfort for the bereaved and healing for the injured. It also welcomed the release of kidnapped victims from Kurmin Wali and urged authorities to intensify efforts to secure the freedom of remaining captives and dismantle criminal networks behind the crimes.
The statement called on all tiers of government, security agencies, community leaders and citizens to act urgently to halt what it described as Nigeria’s “dangerous descent into chaos,” insisting that “protecting human life is not optional, it is a sacred obligation.”
Insecurity: Removal from office, resignation only option for failure to protect Nigerians – SCSN
