The Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr AbdulLateef Adegbite, has said the Federal Government must adopt a carrot-and-stick policy to resolve the Boko Haram challenge.
Adegbite, in a statement, said: "The moderates among them can be accepted as the constitution and the law may permit. Those hard-line Boko Haram elements that are bent on pursuing violent agenda should be sought out and dealt with according to the law.
"The scourge of violence as perpetrated by Boko Haram has become dreadful and frightening and seemingly uncontrollable. The need has obviously arisen to seek divine intervention.
"We call on peace -loving Nigerian Muslims to collaborate with their Christian counterparts in embracing peace and dialogue to enhance national security."
He added: "NSCIA hereby expresses solidarity with President Goodluck Jonathan and his government in their effort to suppress Boko Haram’s violent rebellion."
Adegbite urged agencies in charge of national security to be more alive to their responsibilities.
He said: "Religious leaders should educate their followers against negative preaching, practices and behaviour. Religious education should focus on authentic texts of every faith devoid of exaggeration that feed extremism."
He condoled with Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Emir of Kano and the people over the recent explosions.
Adegbite said: "The incident was on a scale that has not been seen before in this country. When added to the previous occurrences in other parts of the North in recent times, the magnitude of the loss to the nation is worrisome.
"We pray that Allah forgives the sins of the victims and admit them in Aljannah. May Allah grant the wounded speedy recovery and console the relations and dependant of the departed.
"We lament the unabated threats to the security of the nation posed by these mindless elements parading themselves as Boko Haram and whose menace continues to instil deep fear in Nigerians. Their destructive activities have also dented the image of Nigeria internationally and adversely affected the inflow of foreign investment into the country.
"It is now crystal clear that these hard–faced rebels have declared war on all Nigerians. This is why it is misguided for some Christian leaders to call for reprisal against Muslims just because Boko Haram targeted a Church near Abuja on Christmas Day last year, irresponsibly killing many worshippers. Is it not now evident that with the sad massacre in Kano, and killings elsewhere in the North, an over whelming number of Muslims have been wasted by Boko Haram?"
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