ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Islamic scholar Malam Abdulrahaman Nuhu Almaliky, an ally of prominent cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has defended the Muslim-Muslim leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Almaliky’s sermon appeared to be a response to Sheikh Nurul Khalil, who had reacted to Sheikh Jingir’s description of Christians as “infidels.”

Almaliky, a member of the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah, headquartered in Jos, Plateau State, said he would rather endure hardship under a Muslim leader than enjoy material comfort under a non-Muslim leader.

“For me, having a Muslim as leader while I eat grass is better than having an infidel as leader while I eat chicken every day,” Almaliky said.

The cleric argued that having Muslims in positions of authority benefits Islam because certain matters that could be harmful to the religion would be concealed or prevented.

“It is written in one of the books, because an infidel will harm my religion. The fact that you are being governed under a Muslim-Muslim arrangement is beneficial. Ninety per cent of things are covered, while only 10 per cent are revealed, all for our good,” he said.

Almaliky said many Muslims had failed to appreciate what he considered the religious benefits of the Muslim-Muslim administration.

“This is something your minds have not considered. People will say we are working for someone, but who is that person? We are not campaigning for Tinubu; we are campaigning for Islam,” he added.

The cleric also disputed claims that the country’s hardship is solely the government’s fault. He argued that some people complaining about suffering were themselves involved in conduct prohibited by Islam, including mistreating their parents and engaging in same-sex relations.

“If you examine their lives, you will realise that some of them are better off through their work, if Allah judges them accordingly. Some mistreat their mothers and still complain about suffering, while others engage in acts prohibited by Islam,” he said.

Almaliky’s remarks reflect his strong preference for Muslim political leadership but could attract criticism over their portrayal of non-Muslims and their implications for religious tolerance in Nigeria.

Tinubu and Shettima’s Muslim-Muslim ticket generated considerable debate ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Supporters argued that competence and electoral strategy should take priority over religious balancing, while critics expressed concern about religious inclusion and representation in the country’s leadership.

Neither Sheikh Nurul Khalil or the Presidency had publicly responded to Almaliky’s remarks at the time of this report.

Previously, Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahya Jingir called on Muslims to support Muslim-Muslim political tickets, while urging his followers to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of future elections.

Jingir made the remarks at a campaign event for Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf tagged “Abba Go Again,” according to a video seen by SaharaReporters.

Governor Yusuf was also present at the event.

In the speech delivered in Hausa, the cleric praised President Tinubu for promoting a Muslim-Muslim ticket and said he remained a strong advocate of the arrangement.

“I am among the staunch advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and I call on you to come together for Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he said.

Jingir acknowledged opposition to the idea from Christians and other religious groups but questioned whether his advocacy amounted to wrongdoing.

“I am aware that the infidels are embittered by this word. However, are there no Christians alike? Are there no Jews? Are there no traditionalists? Have I done anything wrong by merely campaigning for a Muslim-Muslim ticket?” he said.

“Have I stopped the Christians from their own slogans? Have I stopped traditionalists from a similar campaign?”

The cleric reiterated his position, saying: “But as a Muslim, I repeat it, Muslim-Muslim! No going back on this.”

Responding to arguments that Nigeria is a democracy with citizens from different religious backgrounds, Jingir questioned whether those making such arguments represented non-Muslims.

“Some would say ‘it’s a democracy and there are people who are not Muslims,’ are you their spokesperson?” he asked.

“But we pray and observe fasting, and it’s said that the majority carries the votes,” he added.

Jingir also urged those at the event to prepare for elections by obtaining their voter cards.

“I urge all of us here to go and get our voters’ cards ready. Let’s show the infidels their limit, who claim they are more populous than us in Nigeria. They are lying!” he said.

He attributed the previous electoral defeat of opponents of the Muslim-Muslim ticket to his position on the issue, saying: “If it wasn’t for my stance on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, somebody would have claimed they are more populous than us. But by the grace of Allah, we defeated them so ignominiously that they did not even make it to the second place in the polls, did they? They came third after all.”

Jingir then declared his support for Muslim-Muslim candidates and called on Muslims to follow suit.

“Therefore, my vote is for a Muslim-Muslim candidate! What about you, the Muslim umma?”

Jingir’s comments have since sparked a backlash, with many Nigerians and groups condemning them as inflammatory.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Joint Task Force, Operation Fansan Yamma, said on Saturday that its troops conducting offensive operations in Zamfara State had neutralised several terrorists, recovered weapons and intercepted a suspected explosives courier with 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives.

The Media Information Officer of the operation, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on operations conducted on August 14, 2026.

Danja said troops of Sector 2, while conducting an offensive clearance operation in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara, encountered terrorists around Garin Kaso and engaged them in a fierce firefight.

He said two terrorists were confirmed neutralised during the initial encounter, while troops recovered two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles.

According to him, another group of terrorists subsequently attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions.

“Troops responded decisively, fought through the ambush and inflicted further casualties on the terrorists, forcing surviving elements to flee the area,” he said.

Danja said the exact number of additional casualties among the terrorists could not be immediately confirmed.

He, however, said reports from communities in the area indicated that several terrorists with apparent gunshot wounds, alongside the bodies of their neutralised colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing elements.

In a separate operation on the same day, troops of Sector 2 intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier during routine snap checks on vehicles.

The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar, was allegedly conveying 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Danja said the vehicle was searched, leading to the recovery of the explosives.

He added that the suspect, vehicle and recovered materials had been taken into custody for further investigation.

The Theatre Command said the operations underscored the sustained offensive posture of Operation Fansan Yamma, particularly its efforts to simultaneously attack terrorist enclaves and disrupt logistics networks supplying weapons, explosives and other resources to criminal elements.

The command reaffirmed its resolve to sustain ongoing operations and deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North-West.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Suspected bandits abducted about 14 passengers travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday night.

The gunmen reportedly ambushed the commercial bus conveying the passengers, forced them into the bush and abandoned the vehicle on the road.

Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said operatives had rescued five of the victims, including a four-year-old boy.

The police said nine other victims remained in the custody of their abductors, adding that the command launched a coordinated rescue operation in the early hours of Friday to secure the release of those still in captivity.

He said the operation involved an exchange of gunfire between security operatives and the suspected kidnappers, resulting in the rescue of five victims.

The police spokesperson explained that one of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot wound during the operation and was immediately taken to a medical facility in Otukpo, where the victim is receiving treatment.
Aondongu said operatives of the command, working alongside other security agencies, were intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining nine victims safely, assuring that the operation was being conducted with caution, with the safety of the abducted passengers as the primary objective.

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, acknowledged the concerns of the victims’ families and members of the public, saying that concerted efforts were underway to secure the safe release of those still in captivity.

The command urged residents of the affected communities and the general public to remain calm and vigilant and provide the police with credible information that could assist the ongoing rescue operation and help prevent similar incidents.

The police assured the public that they would continue to provide updates as developments unfold.