Emir of Kano, Sanusi wants Muslims to fight Boko Haram, says Nigerian state weak

The Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said the taking over of some areas in Borno and the killing of 2000 people in Baga shows that the Nigerian state is weak.

‘’We can’t keep quiet while people are being killed, we must fight to make sure our religion is not distorted but the state must protect us,” he pointed.

He reiterated his earlier call asking the Muslims to defend themselves against the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the country, saying “if your en­emy comes to attack you and you run away Allah will not help you.”

He commended the people who killed the terrorists who attacked Jumat Mosque in Kano last year.

The Emir who spoke at the closing ceremony of the 29th National Quranic recitation said the reason Boko Haram was still terrorizing Nigeria and taking over some Nigerian territories was because Nigeria has become a weak state.

According to him, the “first responsibility of the state is to protect lives and properties of its citizens or it loses the basis of its existence,” he said add­ing that Borno, Yobe, Adama­wa states and any other parts of Nigeria still under the Boko Haram must be liberated, in­sisting that “government must defeat Boko Haram.”

Sanusi while admitting that it is the duty of government to protect lives and properties of its citizens however called on the people to stop running from the terrorists whom he said were projecting Islamic religion in an ungodly manner.

“It is extremely important that we look at the Quran which provides the most noble of behaviours and character. Selling freeborns into slavery, kidnapping of young girls and rape are unIslamic. Muslim leaders must speak up or we are guilty of complicity,” he said.

In his speech, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Gabai El Kanemi, said the Quranic recitation was the most impor­tant rallying point for Muslims which he said must be sus­tained. He called on Muslims to base their teachings on the Holy Quran in order not to mislead their followers.

He also called on Nigeri­ans to live in peace, stressing that what cannot be achieved through peace can never be achieved through violence

Earlier Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said God will help the country to overcome its challenges in the North East, pointing out that there was no country in the world without its own chal­lenges.