*Condemns renewed killings in parts of country
The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has added its voice to the wide condemnations of the renewed killings in some parts of the country especially those as now involving the killings in sacred places of religious groups.
It charged stakeholders in Nigeria project as well as media practitioners to ensure justice, fairness and mutual understanding as 2019 general elections were fast approaching.
The MMPN, which rose from a three-day second national conference, held between Friday 27th – Sunday 28th April, 2018 at the conference hall of the National Mosque Complex Central Area Abuja, said it took its decision to make the condemnation after extensive deliberation.
In a communiqué signed by the newly elected President of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun, the Muslim journalists’ association said it resolved from the conference themed “2019: Our Role” that:
“1. That the MMPN condemns the renewed killings in some part of the country, and urged the federal government to get to the root cause of the ugly development.
“2. That the MMPN is reminding those who enjoyed killings others in the name of religion that there is no compulsion in religion as Islam was not spread with force, bombs or killings but with wisdom and good character.
“3. That as we approach 2019 general elections, the Association calls on all lovers of peace, stakeholders in Nigeria project and media practitioners in Nigeria to ensure justice, fairness, and mutual understanding. There should be no bloodletting, killing and maiming because of power as power comes from Allah”.
The DEFENDER had reported among others the recent killing of two Catholic clerics in Makurdi and, in a reprisal attacks few days after, killing of some over 12 innocent Muslims in same Makurdi that is the Benue State capital on Sunday while Christian in parts of the country heeded the order of nationwide protests issued by Christian Association of Nigeria.
The Muslim Rights Concern in a statement by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, while praising the peaceful conduct of the Christian protesters in some parts however frowned at while innocent Muslims should be killed in Makurdi during a protest in the town on Sunday following the arrival in town of bodies of the slain clerics.
Akintola queried why some Christians should resorted to the killing of innocent Muslims when what they planned were peaceful protests.
