National Issues
Numan crisis: Muslim Students criticize FG’s “double standard”, appeals to El-Rufai over sack of teachers
THE Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has expressed strong disapproval of what it described “double standard” role played by the Federal Government in handling the recent crises and aftermath of the crises in Numan, Adamawa state.
MSSN National Amir, Muhammad Jameel Muhammad strongly condemned the role of Nigerian government in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 104th Islamic Vocation Course (IVC) of B zone of MSSN held at IVC Permanent Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State on Monday.
Muhammad said it was unfortunate that many Nigerians lost their lives during the two unfortunate incidents in Numan, declaring that the way the Federal Government was handling the crises and its aftermath was to say the least, a double standard.
Also, he expressed worried that governments at both state and federal levels do not resolve contending issues amicably with relevant stakeholders.
He stressed that the way and manner issues ranging from recurrent strikes by academic or non-academic staff of higher institutions to sudden radical frustration and dismissal of teachers at the secondary and primary levels are handled coupled with insensitivity with which the education sector in the country is handled is alarming, worrisome and demoralizing to the MSSN as a body.
Muhammad further remarked that the purpose of the IVC which is a tradition was to allow Muslims thinkers, intellectuals, scholars and indeed stakeholders from diverse walks of life to robustly and rigorously train the younger and up-coming members on the pristine Islam in the context of certain pertinent and burning national, regional and global issues, with a view to producing outstanding Muslim fortified with the wire withal to withstand the ever increasing, ubiquitous challenges of the present time.
“First, the way and manner in which the federal government is handling the crises and its aftermath in Numan, Adamawa state, is, to say the least, a double standard.Here is a place in which lives of Nigerians were gruesomely lost at two unfortunate incidents.
“But while the first set of victims were never recognised and may possibly never be at all, the second set of victims attracted the visit of the whole Vice President of the country and a series aids thereafter.
“This has painted a picture that some animals are more equal than others, as contained in George Owell’s fable, The Animal Farm”, Muhammad statement reads.
He then noted that one of the dangers of such double standard or favoritism is that it pitches Nigerians against themselves on the account that some are favoured while some are disfavored.
He said, ” the danger here is that Nigerians are being pitched against fellow Nigerians on account of being favoured/disfavored by the same government voted by and tasked with taking care of both.
“As students, our constituency resides within the educational sector. We are always worried that our governments at both state and federal levels do not resolve contending issues amicably with relevant stakeholders.
“Ranging from recurrent strikes by academic or non-academic staff of higher institutions to sudden radical frustration/dismissal of teachers at the secondary and primary levels, the insensitivity with which the education sector in our country is handled is alarming, worrisome and demoralizing to us as students.
“In all such cases, the schools that are the only symbol of governmental presence in most localities become abandoned by teachers, making us, students, more vulnerable before the myriad of forces of evil that have pervaded the land.
“We therefore call on all governments to handle the educational sector with the delicacy and seriousness it deserves. This programme, as is traditional, gathers our thinkers, intellectuals, scholars and indeed stakeholders from diverse walks of life to robustly and rigorously train our younger and upcoming members on the pristine Islam in the context of certain pertinent and burning national, regional and global issues, with a view to producing outstanding Muslim fortified with the wire withal to withstand the every increasing, ubiquitous challenges of the present time”.
Muhammad on behalf of MSSN then appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to tread more cautious in his plan to sack over twenty thousand teachers in the state.
He said “Specifically, we identify with the appeal to the government of Kaduna state that is planning the mass sack of over twenty-one thousand teachers to tread a more cautious path in this trying time as it takes its monumental decisions.
“We appeal further that all pertinent stakeholders policy makers, educational administrators, supervisors, teachers, students and even their parents should be repositioned and for good if the decay in education is to be adequately addressed.
“At this national gathering of delegates from the nooks and crannies of the country, it is pertinent to reiterate the need for all of us to contribute to the long-overdue project of building our National Secretariat in Abuja, the FCT.
“This dream and pride of every Nigerian Muslim student needs at least a hundred naira from each one of us as a patriotic member of the MSSN. So far, of the four hundred million naira estimated, only about six million has been realized. But we are optimistic that Allah will help us achieve this laudable dream.
“Respected personalities here present, my tenacious brothers and sisters in the quest for justice, permit me to emotionally but objectively appeal for justice.
Muhammad while commending House of Representatives in responding to the case of Firdaus Amas, a female law graduate denied to be call to bar recently, insisted that anyone found culpable should be brought to the book.
He said “Our second appeal relates to the brazen display of lawlessness by the trio of the Nigerian Law School, the Body of Benchers and the Council of Legal Education.
“In a monumental display of impunity, in broad daylight and at the critical occasion of calling a new set of lawyers to the Nigerian bar, the trio denied our sister, Firdausi Aljannah Amasa, the last leg of her passionate dream of being a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, the dream she tenaciously toiled for over two decades.
“Her only crime was that she was, and still is, alhamdulillah, a practicing Muslim. We already have written a heavily worded letter to Mr President and copied relevant holders of stake on the matter.
“As we demand an expeditious investigation of the matter, calling Firdausi to bar, bringing to book all persons or groups found culpable in the unconstitutional act and a formal public apology to all that relates to Firdausi in any way, we urge all our members to continue to be law-abiding pending the response of stakeholders and our subsequent communications.
“We must mention here, the commendable and responsive effort of the House of Representatives on the matter and earnestly await the report of the House committee saddled with that.
“At the international scene, we join the rest of the world in condemning the international bully, the USA, and her partner in crime, Israel, for the unjust, unpopular and provocative decision to turn Jerusalem to the capital city of the illegally imposed state of Israel. It is inescapably necessary to, at this juncture, commend the consciences driven countries that voted overwhelmingly for the United Nation’s declaration of the move as illegal and the maintenance of status quo. We want to also educate the US, Israel, their covert and overt supporters that injustice due to might or whatever reason is only transient. They better tread the path of honour by reconsidering such unhealthy stands.
“Still internationally, brothers and sisters, we are ceaselessly sad that the genocide in Myanmar is continuing unabatedly simply because the victims are the Muslims. The media that should be the conscience of the society has abandoned its duty by being silent on the heinous crime against humanity. No one hears about the plight of the endangered people of Myanmar. The declaration by the UN that they should be given their due rights, important and laudable as it is, should be matched with actions. The culprits should not be stopped but also they should be adequately sanctioned.
“Before this speech is concluded, let me cease this opportunity to say my final salam to you as the National Amir at a National IVC.
“By next year, precisely in May, 2018, my set of EXCO and I will leave office. I therefore must not fail to acknowledge that the little achievements I had were due to your unflinching support.
“Though this is not my valedictory speech, I must appeal to you to pardon me for my wrongs in my capacity as a national officer on behalf my executive council with whom we piloted the affairs of this complex organization in this complex country for three years.
Amid rising killings and a wave of mass abductions by gunmen and suspected terrorists across the country, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency.
The President, in a statement personally signed and released in Abuja, also ordered an immediate expansion of the manpower of the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force as the Federal Government rushes to halt the worsening insecurity.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces,” Tinubu said.
“By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel. The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000.”
Tinubu explained that he had already approved upgrades of police training facilities nationwide and authorised the use of selected National Youth Service Corps camps as police training depots.
He added that officers withdrawn from VIP guard duties would undergo “crash training” before being redeployed to areas battling heightened insecurity.
The President also directed the Department of State Services to immediately deploy all trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in forests across the country. The DSS was further authorised to recruit additional personnel.
“There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil. This is a national emergency. We are deploying more boots on the ground, especially in vulnerable communities. The times require all hands on deck. As Nigerians, we must all get involved in securing our nation,” he said.
Tinubu commended security agencies for jointly securing the release of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers in Kwara State. He assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue students of Catholic schools in Niger State and other kidnapped Nigerians still in captivity.
“To the leadership and rank and file of our Armed Forces, I commend your courage and sacrifice. This is a challenging moment for our nation and for the military itself. I charge you to remain resolute, restore peace across all theatres of operation, and uphold the highest standards of discipline. There must be no compromise, no collusion, and no negligence,” he added.
The President announced that the Federal Government would support state governments operating community-based security outfits.
Tinubu also urged the National Assembly to begin reviewing laws that would allow states seeking to establish their own police forces to do so.
He warned states against maintaining boarding schools in remote areas without adequate security and advised churches and mosques in vulnerable areas to engage security agencies when organising large gatherings.
On the lingering farmer–herder clashes, Tinubu restated that the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development would provide long-term solutions. He appealed to herders to embrace ranching, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons.
“I sympathise with the families who have lost their loved ones in recent attacks on soft targets in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe, and Kwara states. I also pay tribute to our brave soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba,” he said.
Warning criminal groups not to undermine the state, Tinubu emphasised that his administration possessed the resolve and capacity to secure the country.
“Fellow compatriots, I urge you not to give in to fear or despair. Stand firm to defend our freedom and values. Our administration will continue to guarantee peaceful co-existence and preserve our union.”
He called on citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and cooperate with security agencies.
Tinubu’s declaration came amid nationwide outrage after the killing of at least five people in Kebbi and Kwara states, and the abduction of over 300 schoolchildren from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, and St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State.
The Presidency on Monday said the United States Government has expressed readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria through enhanced intelligence sharing, supply of defence equipment and other support to boost ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups.
It said the commitment followed a series of engagements held last week in Washington, DC, between a high-level Nigerian delegation and top US officials aimed at strengthening bilateral security ties and opening new areas of collaboration.
The delegation, led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with senior officials from the US Congress, White House Faith Office, State Department, National Security Council and the Department of War.
Other members of the delegation included the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and two representatives from the Office of the NSA.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian team used the engagements to debunk allegations of genocide in the country, insisting that violent attacks cut across religious and ethnic divides.
Onanuga said the delegation also rejected what it described as the “wrongful framing” of Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that such portrayals risked further dividing citizens and misrepresenting realities on the ground.
“The discussions provided ample opportunity to correct misconceptions about Nigeria, forged a constructive, solution-driven partnership with the United States, reinforced mutual trust, and advanced a coordinated approach to protecting vulnerable communities, especially in the Middle Belt,” the statement read.
He added that the US expressed willingness to offer complementary support, including humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the Middle Belt and technical aid to strengthen early-warning mechanisms.
Onanuga said both countries agreed to immediately implement a non-binding cooperation framework and set up a Joint Working Group to coordinate agreed areas of collaboration. Nigeria, he added, reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing civilian protection measures.
“The Federal Government restates its awareness of heightened sensitivities regarding religious freedom and security, and urges citizens to remain assured that firm, urgent, and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation,” he stated.
The development comes weeks after former US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy American forces to Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the government failed to halt what he described as the killing of Christians.
Trump, who also designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution, had on his Truth Social platform accused the government of allowing the “mass slaughter” of Christians and warned that Washington could cut aid and take military action.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” he wrote, adding that he had instructed the US Department of War to prepare for possible operations.
But President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly dismissed claims of genocide against Christians, maintaining that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom, tolerance and the protection of all citizens regardless of faith.
Suspected bandits have abducted four rice farmers in Bokungi community, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening while the victims were working on their farms during the peak of the harvest season. It came barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked a church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA of the state, killing two worshippers and abducting several others.
According to sources, the attackers stormed the farms suddenly and surrounded the farmers as they gathered their harvested rice.
“It has been confirmed that bandits struck again at Bokungi under the Lafiagi Emirate. Four people were abducted. Information is still emerging,” the sources said.
Residents said the gunmen operated for several minutes without resistance, forcing the farmers into a nearby bush before whisking them away to an unknown location.
Community members also lamented rising insecurity in Edu LGA, noting that several farming settlements had been abandoned as farmers now fear venturing out during the harvest period when they are most vulnerable.
The Kwara State Police Command and the state government had yet to comment on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
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