The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, issued a strongly worded statement on June 26, 2025, expressing deep concern over escalating abductions, killings, ethnic violence, and the resurgence of Boko Haram in Nigeria, particularly highlighting the June 20, 2025, attack in Mangu, Plateau State, where 12 Muslim wedding guests from Kaduna were killed. Signed by Secretary-General Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the statement criticized the Federal Government for its reactive approach and failure to leverage intelligence to prevent attacks, noting that Nigerians are growing restive and losing confidence in government protection. The JNI condemned the Mangu killings as a premeditated act by “Plateau Christian mobs,” citing a pattern of violence against Muslims, including the 2011 Rukuba Road attack and the 2018 murder of Brig. Gen. Idris M. Alkali (rtd). It demanded immediate prosecution of the 22 arrested suspects, compensation for victims’ families, and replacement of the destroyed Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) bus, urging legal action by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN).
The JNI also highlighted broader security issues, including a June 21, 2025, Boko Haram suicide bombing in Konduga, Borno State, killing 12 (Human Rights Watch, June 24, 2025), and attacks in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Benue, such as the June 14 Yelwata massacre of up to 200 Christians by suspected Fulani herdsmen (Christian Post, June 29, 2025). It accused the government of failing to punish perpetrators, noting unaddressed incidents like the 2023 killing of 11 traders in Mangu and 27 Fulani Muslims in Jos (Daily Trust, June 25, 2025). The group criticized biased reporting by the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA), alleging favoritism toward Christians, and called for proactive intelligence, enhanced security deployment, and stakeholder collaboration to address land disputes and ethnic tensions fueling violence.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), through Northern Chairman Rev. John Hayab, responded by urging JNI to avoid a “blame game” and focus on unified action. Hayab condemned the Mangu killings but challenged JNI’s narrative, pointing to mass burials in Southern Kaduna and calling for accountability across communities to tackle root causes like land disputes (Vanguard, June 26, 2025). The Federal Government, via President Tinubu, condemned the Mangu attack and deployed security forces, but no response was received from spokespersons Bayo Onanuga or Minister Mohammed Idris at press time.
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