TheCable

The Muslim Rights Concern has condemned the abduction of nine children in Kano state.

The Kano state police command rescued nine children who were reportedly kidnapped in Kano and taken to Anambra state. The children were said to have been forcefully converted to Christianity.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ishaq Akintola, director of MURIC, said the incident should not cause animosity between Christians and Muslims.

He described the abduction as “nauseating, wicked and reprehensible”.

Akintola asked Muslims to continue to live in peace with their Christain neighbours because not all of them are involved in such criminal acts.

“Nonetheless, MURIC will not allow emotion to becloud its intervention in this sensitive and ugly development. We are aware that not all Christians are involved in this criminal behaviour. Many adherents of Christianity are decent and peace-loving. Such Christians will never descend so low as to seize, convert and sell Muslim children,” he said

“We, therefore, appeal to Muslims throughout the federation to dispassionately separate the wheat from the chaff. This Kano 9 incident should not be allowed to generate animosity between them and their Christian neighbours. Neither should it ignite spontaneous attacks on non-indigenes in Muslim majority areas.”

Akintola appealed to security agencies in Nigeria to “prosecute those arrested over the Kano nine palaver”.

”We also appeal to the security agencies to provide adequate protection for Islamiyyah school children,” he said.

“Muslim parents should be security conscious, particularly around their children. Mallams in charge of Islamiyyah schools and madrasahs all over Nigeria are urged to do head-counting before the commencement of classes and immediately after.

“Muslim children should be given security tips. For instance, movement in groups should be encouraged while residents should heighten their vigilance.”