Muslims reject Al-Qaeda offer

[Muhsin]

Muslims reject Al-Qaeda offer
By Ifedayo Adebayo
February 7, 2010 12:36AM


Nigerian Muslims reject any attempt by Al-Qaeda or any of its affiliate groups to procreate their cells in Nigeria like it has done in some other countries, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) said in Abuja at the weekend.

The council, through a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the group, Lateef Adegbite, said Nigerian Muslims are not at loggerheads with their Christian counterparts and that "the recent unfortunate bloody Jos disturbances, like others before it, were not caused by religious differences but were rooted in ethnic and political rivalry.

"Neither Al-Qaeda nor the Taliban has a foothold in Nigeria. Nor would Nigerian Muslims welcome any attempts by them to establish their cells here," the council said.

The council said the Nigerian Muslim leadership had briefed its followers, especially the youth, on the need to be alert and avoid persons and groups who might want to indoctrinate and recruit them into violent groups.

"Nigerian Muslims are irrevocably committed to the unity, peace and stability of our beloved country." The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also dissociated the Muslim community in Nigeria from the message from Al-Qaeda, saying that "neighbourliness is one of the core teachings of Islam. We cannot rise against our neighbours simply because we hold different religious views."

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