NSCIA Warns Against Linking Crime To Religion, Ethnicity

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has cautioned against associating criminal activities with any religion or ethnic group, warning that such narratives could worsen divisions and undermine efforts to address insecurity in the country.

The council made the call in a Democracy Day message signed by its Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, on behalf of the President-General of the NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

The NSCIA stressed that banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent crimes should not be given religious or ethnic colouration, noting that insecurity remains a major national challenge affecting all communities.

It warned that attributing criminality to any faith or ethnic group risks deepening national tensions and distracting from collective efforts needed to achieve lasting peace and security.

“Criminality should neither be given ethnic nor religious colouration,” the council stated, adding that such narratives are harmful and counterproductive.

The council condemned all forms of violence and urged those involved in criminal acts to abandon their activities and allow peace to prevail across the country.

It also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to associate Nigerian Muslims with banditry and kidnapping, insisting that such profiling is false and unfair to law-abiding citizens.

According to the NSCIA, the majority of Muslims in Nigeria are peaceful and contribute meaningfully to national development across different sectors of society.

The council referenced recent reactions to the kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying some claims had wrongly attempted to link the incident to religion and ethnicity.

It further argued that subsequent developments disproved attempts to associate the attack with any particular religious or ethnic identity, urging caution in public commentary.

The NSCIA also called on media organisations and opinion leaders to ensure accuracy, professionalism, and fairness in reporting security issues in order to avoid inflaming tensions.

It warned that misleading narratives could worsen mistrust among Nigeria’s diverse communities and weaken cooperation in tackling insecurity.

The council reiterated its support for government and security agencies in ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and restore peace across the country.

It also urged Nigerians to use Democracy Day as a reminder of justice, inclusion, accountability, and national unity.