TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muslim

  • Eid-El-Fitr: NSCDC mobilises 52,000 officers nationwide

    Eid-El-Fitr: NSCDC mobilises 52,000 officers nationwide

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has mobilised 52,000 officers and men of the Corps across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to prevent breach of security during the Eid-el- Fitr celebration.

    A statement by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu disclosed that the Commandant General (CG), Dr Ahmed Audi gave the approval for the deployment on Thursday.

    According to the statement, the CG specifically tasked Zonal Commanders to ensure proper security coordination of their zones, while State Commandants are to effectively mobilise Area Commanders, Divisional Officers, Component Commanders and all Special Forces to achieve watertight security for maximum protection of the populace and critical national assets.

    The CG said: “Our resolve to guarantee peace, safety and protection of lives and critical assets in synergy with other security agencies must be carried out through our collective inputs.

    “For these obvious reasons, I have charged all Zonal Commanders and State Commandants with these responsibilities and everyone must brace up to discharge their assignments satisfactorily.”

    He charged all formations of the Corps to engage community stakeholders in gathering credible intelligence and carry out composite surveillance before, during and after the celebration to prevent surprises from the criminals.

    Audi also ordered that deployment of personnel should be focused on prayer grounds, worship centres, recreational facilities, motor parks, gardens, markets, shopping complexes, black spots and critical installations to make the festivity hitch-free.

    He extended his felicitation to all Muslim faithful in the country and across the world on the successful completion of the Ramadan Fasting and celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

    He prayed to God to answer all prayers for peace, stability and security in the country.

  • Just In: FG declares 2 days public holidays for Eid-Il-Fitri

    Just In: FG declares 2 days public holidays for Eid-Il-Fitri

    The Federal Government has declared Friday April 21 and Monday, April 24, 2023, as Public Holidays to commemorate this year’s Eid-Il-Fitri.

    He Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on Wednesday.

    Shawaal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, begins on Eid-ul-Fitr, the month-long Ramadan fast comes to an end.

    Details later….

  • Don’t take loans to perform Hajj – Cleric

    Don’t take loans to perform Hajj – Cleric

    A Muslim cleric, Sheik Ibrahim Yusuf, has urged Muslim faithful not to take loan to visit the holy land, saying it is against the injunctions of the religion.

    Yusuf said this at a Ramadan Lecture organised by Professional Muslim Women Network on Sunday in Lagos.

    The cleric in a lecture, titled; “Islam is a Complete Religion”, said there was no need for Muslims to borrow or take loans during Ramadan or perform Hajj (pilgrimage).

    Yusuf said that it had become a norm in the society today for people to want to do more than their capacity in order to show off.

    According to him, nothing is new in Islam because the religion is complete with laydown principles, and that it is against Islamic injunctions.

    “Many people have developed hypertension in the society because they have taken loans from microfinance banks and cannot repay.

    “To serve Allah or go for Hajj, it is not compulsory or mandatory; It is voluntary. Don’t take loan because of that, this is not acceptable.

    “Islam as a religion does not make it compulsory for anyone, it is a peaceful and complete religion.

    “There are five pillars in Islam that every muslim must adhere to; there is no other God but Allah, say your five prayers daily, pay your Zakat diligently, fast during Ramadan and visit to the holy land (Mecca).

    “The visit to holy land is one of the pillars, but it is not compulsory. It is voluntary if you have the resources,” the cleric said.

    He urged all Muslims who have missed any fast during the Ramadan to repay it as stipulated.

    “You are exempted from the fast if you are sick, a traveler, pregnant, a nursing mother and if you’re elderly.

    “You are not expected to participate in the fast if you fall into these  categories. But, you must find time at a later date to observe the days missed.

    “Don’t stress yourself to worship Allah. Many people have developed hypertension because of loan and stress. If God says you will go to the holy land, you will.

    “Allah said, “I have made this religion complete for you easy, don’t stress yourself”,” he noted.

    Yusuf urged Muslims to dedicate themselves to prayer, almsgiving and Zakat even after the Ramadan.

    “Ramadan is just once a year, you must worship and pray fervently to Allah during this period.

    “The period is a period of self-disciple which every Muslim is expected to continue after Ramadan,” he explained.

    Hajia Rafat Salami, one of the conveners, said that the lecture was organised to educate Muslim faithful on their obligations during and after Ramadan.

  • Police probe attack on Ife residents by Oro worshippers, Imam and others injured

    Police probe attack on Ife residents by Oro worshippers, Imam and others injured

    The Osun State Police Command has begun an investigation into the alleged attack on some residents of Ile-Ife by Oro worshippers.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that members of the Muslim community in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Friday, staged a protest following the alleged invasion of a mosque in the Ilare area by some Oro adherents.

    The protesters said on Thursday, the traditionalists entered the mosque, where some Muslims had gathered to observe the 4pm prayers, and attacked those they found in the building.

    Beside the chief imam of the mosque, Abdul-Lateef Adediran, who was reportedly injured in the face, five other worshippers were allegedly stabbed during the attack.

    An eyewitness, who identified himself only as Kareem for security reasons, said, “We were in the mosque to pray. Some people were performing ablution when the Oro worshippers entered the mosque.

    “We were aware that they would be going around with Oro and we didn’t meddle in their affairs. They had passed through the area. They later returned and entered the mosque.

    “The imam was trying to ask what their mission was, but they didn’t even allow him to talk before they started beating every one of us. Six people were stabbed. Our imam sustained injuries on his face. All those injured were taken to hospitals in Ile-Ife.”

    During the Friday protest, the protesters, who moved through major streets in the town, visited the palace of the Ooni of Ife, but the royal father was not available.

    Meanwhile, the former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Sakariyau Adesiyan, stressed the need to end the procession by adherents of Oro in daylight in Ile-Ife.

    In an interview in Ile-Ife, Adesiyan said: “This must be the end of daylight Oro procession in Ile-Ife. This is not the first time they have been attacking Muslims and Christians in daylight.

    “What happened yesterday (Thursday) was barbaric and satanic, because the person that was attacked was inside the mosque. Those who are praying were inside the mosque.

    “They have once attacked people. So, we are saying enough is enough. The Muslims are not happy with what they did,” Adesiyan explained.

    According to him, Oro adherents came into the mosque and allegedly attacked Muslims.

    The Ex-NLC Chairman stressed that they wanted the perpetrators punished, adding that the people would continue their protests if those involved were not arrested.

    Also, the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ife Central, Tajudeen Adesiyan, said that the Muslims were about to observe Solat Asri prayer when they were attacked.

    Adesiyan claimed that the Oro traditional worshipers were returning from their shrine, when they forcefully entered the mosque and they were asking for Imam Lateef Adesiyan.

    “It happened inside the mosque and the mosque was destroyed. There was a pool of blood from those injured. We are telling Nigerians that the constitution allows everyone to practice his religion as he likes,” he stated.

    He observed that there had never been a day when Christians would ask Muslims to stay indoors for religious events, but the traditional worshipers were intolerant of other religions.

    The Secretary emphasised that they were going to end the indiscipline act of the traditional Oro worshipers in Ile-Ife.

  • Muslim community condemns usage of Quranic verse in Seyi Vibez music video

    Muslim community condemns usage of Quranic verse in Seyi Vibez music video

    A Muslim community, identified as @nigerianmuslim on Instagram, has condemned the usage of Quranic verse in a music video by a fast-rising Nigerian singer and songwriter, Balogun Afolabi Oluwaloseyi, aka Seyi Vibez.

    In their words: “We condemn the use of the Quran in a music video!”

    Seyi Vibez suffered a severe backlash from the Muslim community after he opened his music video with a Quranic verse.

    The singer unveiled a snippet of his new music video a couple of days ago. This came after Asake dropped his 2023 debut single, Yoga.

    The Muslim community, on Instagram, made a repost of Seyi Vibez’s video. In their caption, it was indicated that they would not tolerate the use of the Quran in a music video.

    This development has set tongues wagging on all socials.

    Muslim community condemns usage of Quranic verse in Seyi Vibez music video

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Seyi Vibez began his music career in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, where he also spent his formative years.

    The Ketu Nigerian Afro-pop musician attended As-Sodiq Primary School. His enrollment at Agric Ikorodu’s Skylights Secondary School came later. He was a sociology student at Lagos State University.

    Seyi Vibez started to recognize his musical abilities when he was in high school. For his classmates at school or his family at home, he would perform cover versions of songs by some of his favorite artists.

    By doing this, he was able to recognize his singing talent and decided to pursue it professionally.

    The fast-rising singer started writing songs and releasing them even though he was not yet signed to a record label.

    He is currently one of the performers dominating the music scene with his constant stream of hit recordings.

    Muslim community condemns usage of Quranic verse in Seyi Vibez music video

    His mostly Afro-pop musical style draws greatly on historical figures like Fela Kuti for influence.

    Seyi Vibez performs his songs in Yoruba and occasionally in English in order to reach a larger audience unrestricted by linguistic boundaries.

    He has gained popularity in countries that do not speak Yoruba. Before Seyi’s debut in 2021 with the popular song “God Sent,” he released a few songs while not receiving any recognition for them.

    The song is off his debut album, NSNV (No Seyi, No Vibes). The song’s popularity assisted Seyi in expanding his fan base and solidifying his position in the business.

  • Muslim group attends Christmas service, presents gift in Kaduna

    Muslim group attends Christmas service, presents gift in Kaduna

    A Muslim group, popularly called the Shiites, on Sunday attended a Christmas church service at one of the largest denominations in Zaria, Kaduna State, as a sign of love and efforts to strengthen religious tolerance.

    The prayer session was held at the Church of Brethren in Nigeria (Ekkelisiyar `Yan Uwa Ta Nigeria (EYN), Samaru, Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The group also presented a gift to the church to further stem love to boost religious tolerance among the two faiths.

    Speaking to newsmen after the service, Leader of the team, Prof. Isah Mshelgaru, said the essence of attending the service was to rejoice with Christians on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

    He added that the visit was to rekindle and cement the existing relationship between the two faiths.

    “Islam says if someone is not your brother in faith, he is your brother in humanity and we share this humanity with everybody, either Muslim, Christian or whatever,’’ he said.

    “We decided to attend this church service today because today is Christmas Day, a day that the birth of Jesus Christ is being celebrated over the globe and we feel that we also have our concern to share with them the feelings of the day Jesus was born.

    “The coming of Jesus to this world is a blessing to everybody, so we wish that we should come and celebrate this glorious day with them,” he said.

    Mshelgaru said that as Muslims they considered Christians as their fellow brothers and sisters in humanity, stressing that they are at the church service to join them in celebrating and sharing the joy of this day with them.

    “As they (Christians) attach importance to this day so also we attach so much importance to the day and that is why we came today to clear all the unnecessary imaginary boundaries that have been created between Muslims and Christians.

    “This is important now that the country is facing multiple security challenges that require all hands to be on deck in order to overcome them,” he noted.

    In his message to other Nigerians, Mshelgaru advised Nigerians to come together irrespective of religious, tribal or political divide to save the nation.

    Similarly, Rev. Tijjani Chindo, the Resident Pastor, EYN Church, Samaru, Zaria, noted that the church received the Muslims with joy and appealed for the replication of the gesture across the country.

    He added that the purpose of the coming of Jesus Christ was to salvage humanity (without segregation) from the bondage of sin.

    “We are all one, as the Lord has told us to love one another and extend the good tidings of salvation which the Christ has brought to the world.

    “He (Christ) has come in a humble way; we are celebrating his coming in a humble way, we are not differentiating ourselves with Muslims. Today we are celebrating the good news that the Lord has come,’’ he said.

    Chindo also advised Nigerians to be more prayerful and seek for God’s direction as the 2023 general election approaches.

    He added that eligible voters should elect leaders peacefully and elect leaders who have the wherewithal to salvage the nation from the socio-economic challenges bedeviling some parts of Nigeria.

  • Breaking: Northern Christian, Muslim leaders dump Tinubu, endorse Atiku as consensus candidate

    Breaking: Northern Christian, Muslim leaders dump Tinubu, endorse Atiku as consensus candidate

     

     

    …moblise heavily against APC’s same faith ticket

    Forum of Christian and Muslim Political Leaders from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have dumped the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and endorsed the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the consensus candidate for the 2023 election.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was the outcome from meeting of leaders and delegates from all over the north comprising of religious leaders, women and youth organisations took the decision in Abuja on Friday at the Atiku Abubakar Hall of Shehu Musa Yaradua centre.

    The forum adopted the report of IRS technical committee led by a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hon Mohammed Umara Kumalia and Barrister Nunge Mele, SAN.

    It will be recalled that the forum of Northern Christian and Muslim Leaders had on October 8, set up the committee to recommend a pan-Nigerian platform to adopt in the 2023 presidential election.

    The resolution was contained in a communique jointly signed by a former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and Minister of Water Resources during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo Hon. Mukhari Shagari and Professor D. D. Sheni.

     

    See below the full details of the report:

    COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF NORTHERN LEADERS CONSULTATIVE FORUM HELD AT YAR’ADUA CENTER, ABUJA.
    DATED 2ND DECEMBER, 2022
    PREAMBLE

    The Northern Leaders Consultative Forum, a body comprised of Muslim and Christian leaders across the 19 Northern States and FCT was set up on the 8th October, 2022 with the mandate to consult among all strata of people in Northern Nigeria with a view to identifying the political party to support for the 2023 presidential elections. This was necessitated by the rejection of the same faith Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC.

    ACTIONS
    The Forum set up a Technical Criteria Committee with the mandate to develop a framework and criteria for the assessment of the leading political parties and their presidential candidates and recommend the ticket that represents our religious, ethnic and geographical diversities, capable of bringing about peace, unity, cohesion and inclusiveness.

    The Committee has completed its assignment and presented its report to the Forum. The Forum has accordingly adopted the report and hereby issues the following communique:

    That the four leading political parties that were considered by the Technical Committee for the purpose of this assignment are:

    i. the All Progressives Congress (APC)
    ii. the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP)
    iii. the Labour Party (LP) and
    iv. the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

     

    DECISIONS
    I. The NNPP and the Labour Party
    a. That the presidential tickets of the NNPP and LP are inclusive, representing our religious diversity as a country populated by a dominant population of Muslims and Christians.

    b. It is however noted that the NNPP and LP have not yet unveiled their Strategic Policy Plan for Nigerians to interrogate. This is less than 3 months to the general elections. And so, it is safe to say that no one except the two parties know the direction in which they intend to take the country. Nigerians cannot go into an election blind folded, especially in view of the myriad of problems bedeviling the nation.

    b. The NNPP and LP do not have all round grassroot structures required of a political party seeking the highest office in the country. They do not have reasonable presence of its members in positions of governance at national, state and local government levels. The few if any, have only recently decamped to the parties. There seems to be a dearth of experienced hands within their parties to pilot the affairs of state.

    c. Based on INEC’s final list of candidates for the 2023 elections, the NNPP could not field in all the seats for the office of Governor and House of Representatives while LP could not field in all the candidates at the levels of Governor, National Assembly (Senate and House of representatives) and State Houses of Assembly.

    The NNPP and LP do not have the required structures to win the presidential election and even if they win, they cannot be able to smoothly run the government as they will not have the required parliamentary majority to successfully pilot the affairs of government.

    II. The All progressives Congress (APC)
    The APC as we all know has fielded the same faith (Muslim-Muslim) ticket which excludes a large demography of Christians who do not feel represented by the ticket. The APC presidential ticket does not promote inclusiveness, unity, religious harmony and cohesion. A large population of Muslims have also expressed reservations to this ticket and have called for fairness and inclusivity.

    Consequently, this ticket is outrightly rejected by the Forum and the Forum hereby calls on all lovers of democracy, peaceful coexistence, unity and religious harmony to reject the ticket in its entirety.

    III. The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)
    a. That the PDP presidential ticket is representative of our religious diversity as a people.

    b. The presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar is the only candidate among the candidates of the four leading political parties that has the knowledge and experience of managing the country at the presidential level. This gives him the advantage to set the ball rolling from day one.

    c. That the PDP presidential candidate has a track record of working harmoniously with all classes of people across religious and ethnic divides.

    d. That the PDP presidential candidate is a well-known talent hunter who has demonstrated capacity to hunt highly experienced talents across different sectors and bring them into government. This country needs highly talented people at this critical time to pull the country out of the doldrums and bring it back to the path of stability, security and prosperity.

    RESOLUSIONS

    The Forum therefore adopts the PDP and the Atiku/Okowa Presidential ticket as the right ticket to support in the 2023 presidential elections, as it addresses all the concerns of inclusiveness, fairness and national cohesion.

    The Forum recommends for support the Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi okowa presidential ticket to all well-meaning Nigerians across the ethnic, sectional and religious diversities, in order to foster unity, peace, development and progress.

     

    …………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………..
    PROFESSOR DOKNAN DD SHENI, OON H.E. MUKHTARI SHEHU SHAGARI, CFR

  • Osinbajo charges religious leaders to use faith to promote peace, unity

    Osinbajo charges religious leaders to use faith to promote peace, unity

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has charged religious leaders to use faith to promote peace, ensure prosperity for the people as well as development of societies.

    His spokesman, Laolu Akande, stated on Sunday in Abuja that Osinbajo gave the charge when he received visiting Senegal-based Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya Islamic Movement Worldwide, Sheikh Muhammadu Niass.

    “We must use our faiths to promote peace and prosperity for our people; we need to work together to ensure that our people benefit from religion.

    “We tend to underestimate the importance of religion in spite of the fact that it plays important role in the development of societies in the spiritual and physical realms.

    “There are many nations of the world that have benefitted from the impact of religion both spiritually and physically.

    “We must, therefore, use religion in our countries and in Africa to help our people to live better lives.

    “In other parts of the world, leaders of faith have used religion to better the lives of the people,’’ Osinbajo was quoted as saying.

    He stressed that in spite of differences, Africans must be able to sit together and dialogue and avoid situations that create disunity.

    “With what is going on across the world, people of faith must continue to emphasise that both major religions (Islam and Christianity) promote peace.

    `We must allow our people to practice whatever religion they want to practice,’’ the vice-president charged.

    Osinbajo praised the leader of the group, while commending the Tijjaniya Movement for its progressive ideals and compassion for the needs of the people.

    The vice-president described President Muhammadu Buhari as a model of leadership that accommodated people of different religious backgrounds, citing his relationship with the president spanning more than seven years as a perfect example.

    “President Buhari is a devout Muslim and I am a pastor; both of us have worked together for about seven years; we have not had issues.

    “The president has shown great leadership; he has shown that he wants a country where people of different faiths live in harmony and with love for one another,’’ Osinbajo stressed.

    Earlier, Niass who spoke in French interpreted by a spokesman thanked the vice-president for the opportunity to meet with him and his delegation.

    He described Osinbajo as a great personality, the type needed both in Nigeria and in Africa.

    “The vice-president is a great personality with an exceptional character, standing on two feet — one as a political leader concerned about the progress of his people and the second, as a man of God.

    “Africa needs a person of your nature with very strong background in religion and politics.

    “I pray that Almighty God will upgrade you and enable you to achieve your desires and aspirations because, as I said, not only Nigeria, but Africa will benefit from your leadership qualities,’’ he said.

    According to Niass, Nigeria is the heart of Africa and whatever Nigeria becomes, Africa becomes.

    Niass also expressed the group’s gratitude to President Buhari for his support, while praying for his safety and for Nigeria to overcome all its challenges.

    The vice-president later promised to convey the Sheik’s warm greetings and appreciation to President Buhari.

    Niass and other members of the Tijjaniya Movement across Africa and worldwide converged on Gusau to celebrate the 36th international Maulud anniversary in honour of the movement’s departed leader Sheikh Ibrahim Niass.

  • Christmas: Hundreds of Muslims attend church service in Kaduna

    Christmas: Hundreds of Muslims attend church service in Kaduna

    As the world celebrates Christmas, which marked the birth of Jesus Christ, some Muslims joined their Christian counterparts for church service in Kaduna.

    The aim is to promote peace, love and religion tolerance.

    The General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and life Intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha Kaduna, Pastor Yohanna Buru, expressed satisfaction over the large turn out of Muslim Imams and youth from seven Northerner states that attended the Christmas services.

    Buru said that despite insecurity challenges bedeviling the peace and stability in the 19 Northern states and the out break of Omicron variant of COVID-19, as well as the high cost of transportation, hundreds of muslims, including women and children, attended this year’s Christmas morning services, with the aim of strengthening good relationship, better understanding, love and religious tolerance.

    According to him, this is the 10th year the church has been hosting Muslims from various states for Christmas celebration.

    Last year, the number of Muslims that attended the church services outnumbered the number of Christians and this year also many Muslims attended the church services.

    “Over 500 Muslims from Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Abuja and Niger states joined us at the service to promote peace and unity.

    The cleric said that all the Muslims that attended the Christmas service were from all Islamic sect which include Tijjaniya, Shiiat, kadriyya and Sunni.

    He said “we must remember that we are created by One God, and we are the children’s of Adam and eve, and we both have our holy scriptures (Bible and Qur’an) from One God which guided us on how to live in peace and harmony with each other”.

    Buru expressed worries over increase in security problems, saying daily bloodshed, banditry, kidnapping, attack and ethno-religious killings across the North has affected the region in terms of education, agriculture, economy, and all sectors of human development.

    He added that the outbreak of ethno-religious crisis in some parts of the northern region had caused a serious set back for the state.

    “Peace, stability and development are needed, hence the need for both Muslims and Christians to live in peace and harmony to make the region better again,” he said.

    Similarly, the District head of Kurmin Mashi Kaduna, Alhaji Rabo Abdullahi, says he is happy to see the number of Muslim youths and Imams that attended the Christmas service.

    Abdullahi said it’s important for Muslims and Christians to always live together in peace and harmony.

    A Muslim woman, Hajiya Sumayya Gali, said they attended the church services because Pastor Yohanna usually brings some of his church members to celebrate maulud with them.

    She also prayed to almighty God to bring an end to the spread of COVID-19, while calling on both Muslims and Christians to pray for peace and unity of the nation.

  • 1 killed as masquerade group clashes with Muslim worshipers

    1 killed as masquerade group clashes with Muslim worshipers

    The Osun Police Command on Monday confirmed the death of one person during a clash between a masquerade and his followers and Muslim worshipers in Osogbo on Sunday.

    According to Osun Police Spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, many were also injured when Muslim worshipers , that were having their prayer in their mosque, got into a fight with the masquerades who took their procession past their mosque.

    Opalola said though the cause of the fight could not be ascertained yet, she said the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, has, however, invited the two fighting group for a dialogue.

    She also stated that some persons have been arrested in connection to the incident and that investigation was also ongoing on the development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that about nine persons (including some underage children) were injured , as it was reported that many were shot during the fracas.

    A masquerade and his followers were said to be passing through the Oluode Aranyin’s compound, Osogbo, where a mosque is located.

    The Muslim worshippers, who were having prayers under a canopy near their mosque, were alleged to have been attacked by the masqurade followers which lead to a fight