The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has strongly 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 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. The SCSN described the incident as a horrific act of carnage in which terrorists allegedly killed women and children, razed homes, and wiped out entire families.
According to the council, the Woro attack, alongside recent incidents in Kwara, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, and other parts of the country, starkly underscores a growing disregard for the sanctity of human life and the alarming collapse of security nationwide.
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 unjustly is regarded as having killed all of mankind, adding that such acts are an affront to the conscience of humanity.
The council condemned attacks on innocent citizens, Muslims and Christians alike, whether through terrorism, banditry, communal violence, or other forms of criminality. It warned that the persistence of such atrocities, despite repeated assurances by authorities, reflects a disturbing failure of governance and the nation’s security architecture.
While appreciating the sacrifices of security personnel, the SCSN urged public office holders to curb lifestyles marked by profligacy and excess and refocus on their primary responsibility of protecting lives and property. It stressed that leadership is a trust, not a privilege for indulgence.
The council maintained that where officials fail in their duty to protect citizens, both Islamic ethics and democratic norms demand accountability, including sanctions, removal from office, or honourable resignation. It called on all tiers of government, security agencies, community leaders, and citizens to act urgently to halt Nigeria’s dangerous descent into chaos.
