THE Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has advised Nigerians to disregard any threat from any group asking them to move from where they are currently resident within the country.
The Executive Secretary of NIREC and Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to remain calm and be law-abiding by shunning any provocative statements capable of causing division between the adherents of the two major faiths.
Apparently reacting to the latest threat by the Boko Haram group, which purportedly gave an ultimatum to some Christians in the North to relocate, Oloyede said such statements should be ignored as security agencies were on top of the situation.
“Nigerians should ignore such [a] statement. The security agencies have assured all of us of adequate security and protection wherever they choose to live in Nigeria, irrespective of tribe, faith and state of origin,’’ he said.
The Executive Secretary said the council, under the able leadership of the two religious leaders, would continue to promote religious harmony and peaceful co-existence of both Muslims and Christians in the country.
He advised any aggrieved group to channel its grievances through lawful means by engaging in dialogue instead of taking the law into its own hands.
Quoting from the holy books, Oloyede said both religions frowned on violence and killing of innocent souls for whatever reasons.
He also advised the security agencies to beef up security around the country and counselled the media to exercise restraint, on the reportage of such issues.
Also, the chairman, Senate Committee on Narcotic, Senator Victor Lar, representing Plateau South, has condemned the three-day ultimatum given by the Boko-Haram sect to Christians in the North to leave the zone, saying that the statement is highly seditious and should not be taking for granted by the Federal Government.
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