A faith-based civil liberties organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and security agencies over the successful rescue of 46 kidnap victims at Oriire, near Ogbomosho in Oyo State.
The Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made this position known in a statement he issued on Sunday.
Akintola said the arrested kidnappers would have been nailed to the cross if Shari’ah had been allowed to decide their fate.
He added: “After spending 56 days in captivity, the Nigerian security agents successfully rescued the 39 children and seven teachers kidnapped at Oriire, near Ogbomosho, yesterday (https://guardian.ng/news/56-days-in-hell-over-for-oyo-children-and-teachers/).
“MURIC commends the audacity manifested by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the resilience exhibited by Governor Seyi Makinde and the gallantry displayed by the security agents involved in the extensive operation.
“We recall that both President Tinubu and Governor Makinde were confronted by Nigerians over the sad incident. Unobjective criticisms flew from the right, left and center as if the issue at stake was as easy as picking out an unwanted ant from a plate of rice. But President Tinubu and Governor Makinde took the criticisms with equanimity. They accepted it as one of the hazards of leadership.
“Critics forgot that the criminal elements had turned their victims to human shields and any rash move to rescue them could result in a huge calamity. Nigerians are yet to learn that it is easier to rescue one or two people from a kidnapper’s den. The larger the number, the more complicated the situation.
“But our security agents wore out the enemy, isolated them technically and mesmerised them psychologically. This is a factor critics failed to see. The ring formed around the target area was instrumental to the restriction of the kidnappers to one spot. They were cornered, helpless, frustrated. They regretted the day they picked kidnapping as a profession.
“Nonetheless, we are constrained to fire a caveat emptor: this class of kidnappers deserve no legal courtesy, no judicial protocol, no human rights obligations. They cast away the right to dignified trial the day they beheaded teacher Michael Oyedokun. They do not belong to the community of homo sapiens compos mentis.
“We pity lawyers who will defend them. Nigerians want to see them tied to the backs of trucks and dragged on the streets of Ogbomosho. Democracy has proved its own weakness here.
“If Shari’ah were allowed to be used in deciding their case, according to Qur’an 5:33, they would have been nailed to crosses. Then their right hands and left legs would be cut off before they are killed. It would have served as a bitter lesson to other kidnappers. Unfortunately, however, some Nigerians oppose Shari’ah out of ignorance.
“MURIC salutes all the gallant security agents involved in the rescue as well as the leadership of the commands for their patience, professionalism and meticulous planning. We are proud of them.
“At this juncture, it is pertinent to remember those among them who paid the ultimate price. We call for the immortalisation of Lt. Felix Isaac and his late colleague. They must not die in vain.
“We charge the Federal Government (FG) to go all out to compensate the family of Lt. Isaac. A bungalow gift for each family from FG and cash not less than N20 million each from the government of Oyo State will not be out of place as compensation for their families. Only thus can our security agents risk their lives for us without looking back.
“Once again we reiterate the significance of unity. We must act in unison to defeat our common enemies. Good Christians are not our enemies. Good Muslims are not our enemies. Our common enemies are the criminals who hide under the canopy of religion and they can only win if we are divided. Oneness of purpose is therefore sine qua non to defeat terrorists and other criminals.”
