Bashir Ahmad, a former special assistant on Digital Communications to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari has berated Islamic scholars for not being vocal on the issue of banditry in many parts of the North.
The Northern part of the country, especially the North West has witnessed consistent attacks from organized criminal gangs involved in large-scale cattle theft, sexual violence, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery.
Ahmad said he is “puzzled as to why our Islamic scholars aren’t vocal in denouncing any association between Islam and banditry.”
He went on to explain that the bandits have no connection to Islamic faith.
“Their actions contradict the teachings of our religion. Statistically, they have harmed more Muslims and Hausas than any other religious or ethnic group, with attacks constantly in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, etc.,” Ahmad wrote on X.
“However, the lack of strong condemnation from our scholars often leads to the misconception that those barbaric acts of banditry are linked to Islam.
“The actions of those bandits are purely acts of terrorism, and they should be recognized as terrorists by everyone. They do not represent us or our religion,” he added.
