KILLINGS: LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, is deeply saddened and devastated by the orgy of violence and mindless killings being perpetrated across the country.
As a matter of fact, looking at the situation of insecurity in Nigeria today and judging it with the incessant killings of innocent people in their scores for whatever reason, the latest incident of mass murder in some villages in Plateau State can only be described as terrible, wicked, evil, disastrous, devilish and calamitous.
The truth is that similar incidents have occurred in other States like Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Zamfara in recent times. Nigeria can definitely not continue like this. These killings must be stopped!
Finding the initial gory incident (also claimed to be another senseless reprisal) and the attacks that followed regrettably disturbing, the office of the Governor of Plateau State issued a strongly-worded press statement in which the Governor condemned the protest that trailed the unfortunate incident of violent attacks in the Northern Senatorial District of the State.
END OF RAMADAN 1439AH (2018G) FAST AND ‘IDUL-FITR CELEBRATIONS
۞يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجَّ
“They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.”(Al-Baqarah 2: 189)
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَۚ
“It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time].” (Yunus 10:5)
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.” (Fusilat 41:37)
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates with the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and all over the world on this year’s Ramadan Fast. The Council prays that Allah the Almighty accepts it from us as an act of Ibadah. Amin.
JUSTICE AKANBI’S DEMISE
Nigeria’s radio waves throbbed with a worrisome breaking news very early Sunday morning (June 3, 2018) announcing the demise of a Nigerian colossus, Justice Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi, the pioneer Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices (and other related offences) Commission (ICPC), who was also a former President of Nigeria’s Federal Appeal Court. His demise at the age of 85 brought a new dimension to the current situation in Nigeria. Coming up at this precarious time in the country’s trending but unpredictable developments, the demise of a vertical personality like Justice Mustapha Akanbi is a further confirmation that death is indeed a leveler of mankind.
As the apex body of the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR,mni, such a demise could not have come as a shock since by Islamic norm, death is a natural phenomenon with a natural dragnet that cannot be escaped or manipulated in any way by any mortal being. Death is a debt which every mortal being owes and must pay at one point of life or another. We are all from Allah and to Allah, we shall all return.
RAMADAN 1439AH PRESS RELEASE
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that, there was positive sighting of the crescent of Ramadan, 1439AH on the 29th of Sha’aban, 1439AH, equivalent to 16th May, 2018. Therefore, Wednesday, 16th May, 2018 is the last day of Sha’aban, 1439AH.
In line with the above, His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, has approved Thursday, 17th May, 2018 as the 1st day of Ramadan, 1439AH.
The Council hereby enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and unity among all the citizens of the country.
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary-General