Stories by Musa Umar Bologi
Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) , Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has appealed to muslim clerics to always preach peace as a way of de-radicalising the mind of Muslim youths in the country.
Speaking at a special juma’at service as part of activities marking this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) at Mogadishu Cantonment Central Mosque, Abuja, the COAS said since the military has defeated Boko Haram insurgents in the battle field, there is the need for Muslim clerics in the country to complement the military’s efforts by de-radicalising the mind of Muslim youths through their sermons and preaching, in order to prevent any extremist group like Boko Haram from springing up.
He said NADCEL was a day set aside every year to reflect on the activities of the Nigerian Army.
“This is a day for prayers and sober reflection. We have fought and won many wars and battles; and Nigerian Army is the best in the African continent,” he said.
Iman of Mogadishu Central mosque, who is also the Director of Islam Affairs, Nigerian Army, Shehu Garba Mustapha, identified lack of proper understanding of the Holy Qur’an as by some muslim clerics, which leads to misinterpretation of the holy book, as a major factor responsible for radicalisation of muslim youths.
He said: “Allah has revealed the Qur’an as a guide, lessons, and solution to all human problems. It is also a protection from all evils.
“We derive lesson from the Qur’an only by reading and understanding its meaning. It is lack of proper understanding of the Qur’an that is responsible for terrorism.
“Today, people claim to propagate Islam without proper understanding or having the knowledge to do so. Some people think that because they can read some portions of the Qur’an or hadith, they understand them deeply. Unfortunately, they do not understand the context to which some verses were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Such people end up doing more harm to Islam and humanity. Such are the people that preach wrong doctrines and terrorism to the youths,” he said.
He appealed to wealthy muslims to be their brothers’ keepers, by using their wealth to help the poor.
