Shariah council urges FG to take decisive action, says insecurity worsens across Nigeria

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, SCSN, has expressed “profound outrage” over the worsening state of insecurity in the country, warning that Nigerians are “tired of speeches, promises, condolences, committees, and official rhetoric not backed by action or results.”

In a press statement issued on Sunday, June 7, 2026, signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, mni, the Council said the security situation had deteriorated to an alarming level, with daily reports of killings, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, banditry, and violent crimes.

SCSN referenced recent mass abductions in Borno, Oyo, Niger, and Zamfara states, which it said reportedly involved hundreds of residents and exposed the vulnerability of communities already battling years of insurgency.

The council also cited the abduction of a retired Army General and his wife in Katsina State as evidence of how far the crisis has spread.

“These incidents represent only a small proportion of the daily tragedies faced by Nigerians, many of which go unreported,” the statement read. Citing security monitoring organisations and human rights groups including ConfikTraka, the Council said thousands of Nigerians had been killed, abducted, or displaced in recent months, with over 1,000 individuals abducted in northern Nigeria during the first quarter of 2026 alone.

The council said it was disappointed that years of appeals by patriotic Nigerians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, and stakeholders had yielded little improvement.

“Security is not a favour to citizens; it is its fundamental constitutional obligation. The time has come for those entrusted with leadership to either effectively perform their responsibilities or relinquish their positions to those who can,” SCSN stated.

It added that no government could claim success while “vast portions of its territory remain vulnerable to criminal elements who operate with apparent impunity.”

SCSN joined millions of Nigerians in demanding greater accountability and transparency over public resources allocated to the security sector. It noted that trillions of naira had been appropriated over the years for defence, intelligence gathering, military operations, and procurement, yet insecurity persists.

“Nigerians deserve to know how these resources are being utilized and why the security situation continues to worsen despite such massive expenditure. Transparency, accountability, and value for money are indispensable if public confidence is to be restored,” the Council said.

The council acknowledged the sacrifices of security personnel, stressing that its criticism was not directed at “patriotic officers and personnel who remain committed to the defence of our country.”

However, it insisted that the crisis requires “bold, unconventional, and radical measures,” arguing that incremental and business-as-usual strategies had failed. It urged government to mobilize intelligence, technology, inter-agency coordination, community participation, border security, local intelligence networks, and rapid-response mechanisms.

“Nigeria cannot continue on this dangerous trajectory. The blood of innocent citizens cries out for justice. Communities cannot continue to be abandoned to terrorists and criminals… The nation demands action. The time for excuses has passed. The time for demonstration of decisive and competent leadership is now,” SCSN said