Shariah council condemns Kwara killings, says Nigeria sliding into “dangerous descent”

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has condemned the renewed wave of killings and insecurity across the country, describing the situation as a dangerous descent into chaos following the massacre of more than 200 people in Woro village, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Council, a leading Islamic body that regularly speaks on national moral and security issues, made its position known in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad and issued on Sunday.

In the statement, the SCSN expressed deep anguish over what it called “senseless carnage,” saying the attack on Woro village, where women and children were among those killed and homes razed, reflected a frightening deterioration of Nigeria’s security situation.

It noted that the Kwara incident was part of a wider pattern of violence recently recorded in states such as Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and Borno, underscoring a growing disregard for the sanctity of human life.

“The horrific act of carnage perpetrated by terrorists in Woro village defies all sense of humanity, morality, and religion,” the Council said, adding that Nigerians should not be forced to live in perpetual fear within their own communities.

The Islamic body stressed that the protection of human life is a non-negotiable principle in Islam, citing Qur’anic and prophetic teachings to reinforce its position.

According to the Council, the killing of innocent persons, regardless of religious or ethnic identity, is among the gravest crimes and an affront to both faith and conscience.

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It further condemned attacks on Muslims and Christians alike, whether carried out through terrorism, banditry or communal violence, and argued that the persistence of such crimes, despite repeated assurances from authorities, points to serious failures in governance and the nation’s security architecture.

While acknowledging the sacrifices of security personnel, the Council said public office holders must refocus on their primary responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.

It warned that leadership is a trust and not a license for indulgence, insisting that where governments or officials demonstrably fail to protect citizens, accountability — including resignation or removal from office — is demanded by both Islamic ethics and democratic norms.

“There is absolutely no justification in Islam for terrorism, mass murder or kidnapping under any pretext,” the Council said, reiterating its long-standing rejection of radicalism and violent extremism, which it described as a gross distortion of Islamic teachings.

SolaceBase reports that the SCSN also extended condolences to families affected by the Woro killings and other violent incidents nationwide, praying for comfort for the bereaved and healing for the injured.

It welcomed the recent release of kidnapped victims in Kurmin Wali and urged authorities to intensify efforts to free remaining captives and dismantle criminal networks.

Calling for urgent collective action, the Council appealed to all tiers of government, security agencies, community leaders and citizens to halt what it described as Nigeria’s drift into bloodshed and lawlessness, stressing that protecting human life is a sacred obligation that must not be treated as optional.