The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on Nigerians to stop linking crimes such as banditry, kidnapping and terrorism to any ethnic group or religion.
The council made the appeal as the country marked Democracy Day, stressing that criminal acts should be treated as crimes and not used to create divisions among citizens.
According to the council, attaching ethnic or religious labels to criminal activities only deepens tensions and weakens efforts to tackle insecurity. It said people involved in kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes should be identified as criminals, regardless of their background.
The organisation also condemned the continued wave of kidnappings, killings and attacks affecting many parts of the country. It noted that innocent Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds have been victims of these crimes and urged authorities to intensify efforts to improve security.
The council emphasised that Islam does not support violence against innocent people. It rejected any attempt to associate the religion with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or other forms of criminal behaviour.
NSCIA further urged political leaders, religious organisations, traditional rulers and community groups to promote unity and peaceful coexistence. It warned that narratives that blame entire ethnic or religious communities for the actions of a few criminals could fuel mistrust and threaten national unity.
The statement comes at a time when insecurity remains one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges. In recent years, armed groups have carried out kidnappings, attacks on villages and other violent crimes across several states, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria. Security experts have repeatedly argued that the crisis is driven by a mix of criminal, economic and social factors rather than religion alone.
The Islamic council called on Nigerians to remain united in the fight against insecurity and avoid comments or actions that could worsen divisions.
It said lasting peace can only be achieved when citizens work together, support lawful efforts to combat crime and refuse to allow criminals to use ethnic or religious differences to divide the country.
