By Lukman Raimi
The recent anti-Islam protests organised by relevance-seeking groups in some parts of South West of Nigeria are unfortunate, provocative, and capable of inflaming religious tensions in an already fragile society. While citizens have the constitutional right to peaceful protest, no group should use insecurity as a basis for demonizing an entire religion or its adherents.
In retrospect, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and violent crimes have affected Muslims, Christians, and Oníṣẹ̀ṣe practitioners alike. The victims of these crimes bear names such as Rashidi, Salami, Abideen, Kudirat, Sekinat, Iyabo, Segun, Bola, Kemi. Emmanuel, Jacob, Caroline, Ifeoma, Bala, Audu, Bako, Ige, Ogundeji, and many others. Criminals do not discriminate based on religion, and neither should our response to insecurity.
It is therefore disappointing that organisers of these protests are quick to associate criminality with Islam while ignoring the complexity of Nigeria’s security crisis. For years, Muslim scholars, organizations, and mosques have consistently condemned kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and all forms of violence through sermons, public statements, conferences, and community engagements. Ironically, many Muslim communities in Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states have suffered immensely from these crimes.
A fundamental question must be asked: Is it the responsibility of Muslims, Muslim organizations, or mosques to purse bandits or provide security for lives and property in Nigeria? The answer is clearly no. Security for lives and property is the constitutional responsibility of government through the armed forces, police, intelligence agencies, and other security institutions. Religious organizations can only support peacebuilding, community vigilance, and moral guidance. That the Muslims and Muslim stakeholders have been doing for long!
Pathetically, some Christians and Onisese have taken to the social media platforms to insult and bully Muslims. At this critical moment, the leadership of the Christian community, particularly umbrella bodies such as CAN and PFN, should counsel overzealous members and discourage inflammatory rhetoric capable of heating up the polity. Distinguished Christian leaders such as Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, and Dr. Daniel Olukoya have consistently demonstrated restraint, wisdom, and a deeper appreciation of the complexities surrounding Nigeria’s security challenges.
Similarly, one is unlikely to hear respected and authentic Oníṣẹ̀ṣe leaders such as Professor Wande Abimbola, Baba Yemi Elebuibon, and Iba Gani Adams engaging in reckless religious blame games over insecurity. They understand that the kidnapping and banditry crisis is far deeper than what appears in newspaper headlines and social media narratives. Decades of neglect of security infrastructure, an over-centralized and outdated policing architecture, weak intelligence systems, inadequate community participation, and, in some cases, unhealthy relationships between political actors and criminal elements have all contributed to the crisis.
The painful truth is that criminals answer Christian names, Muslim names, and Oníṣẹ̀ṣe names. Crime has no religion. Terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits do not represent any faith. They represent criminality.
Nigeria does not need religious scapegoating. It needs effective governance, modern policing, intelligence-led security operations, community engagement, and accountability from those entrusted with protecting lives and property.
Why the demonization? Why the name-calling? Why the tantrums? Why blame an entire faith community that is itself among the major victims of insecurity?
We are all in this together. We have only one country. Let us reject hatred, embrace dialogue, strengthen national unity, and work collectively against the real enemies of society—criminals, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, and those who profit from division and discord.
Say No to Anti-Islam Protests. Say Yes to Justice, Peace, National Unity, and Responsible Citizenship. We are Yorubas, one of our proverbs read: When the house is on fire, wise people fetch water; they do not argue over who owns the bucket.
– Lukman Raimi, PhD, LL.M, MNIM, Public Intellectual and Policy Analyst
