The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has condemned the recent terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, describing the incident as a crime against humanity and calling for stronger action to end terrorism in the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, the council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, expressed outrage over the attack, which claimed the life of a teacher and led to the abduction of scores of students and teachers.
The council described the recurring attacks on schools as a national disgrace, warning that continued abductions of schoolchildren posed a serious threat to Nigeria's future.
It noted that the latest incident came barely weeks after the abduction of 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the same local government area, as well as the kidnapping of 49 pupils and their teachers in Oyo State, with many of the victims still in captivity.
The NSCIA said the attack demonstrated that terrorists were adapting their methods by exploiting market days and other security gaps, urging the government to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, inter-agency collaboration and community-based early warning systems.
The council also urged authorities to adopt modern technology in combating insecurity, citing the Enugu State Government's artificial intelligence-driven security architecture as a model worthy of consideration.
While commending troops of Operation HADIN KAI for rescuing some of the abducted victims, the council urged security agencies to sustain the operation until all those abducted were rescued safely.
It also paid tribute to the soldier and member of the Civilian Joint Task Force who lost their lives during the rescue operation, describing their sacrifice as patriotic and courageous.
The NSCIA reiterated that terrorism has no place in Islam, stressing that groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP do not represent the religion but are enemies of humanity whose actions violate Islamic teachings on the sanctity of life, justice and the pursuit of knowledge.
The council extended its condolences to the Borno State Government, the management of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and the families of the victims, while insisting that those responsible for the attack must be apprehended and brought to justice.