The Borno State Police Command and Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS) have charged Islamic clerics to preach for peaceful coexistence during the Ramadan fast.
The Police Commissioner, Abdu Umar gave the charges, yesterday (Wednesday), in Maiduguri during a stakeholders’ meeting to regulate preaching of in mosques and other public functions.
“This stakeholders’ meeting is inevitable for preachers to be reminded and abide with the existing law on preaching passed in 2010 by the State Government,” he said.
He added that it is mandatory for preachers to obtain licenses from the boar, before embarking on the activities, including preaching during the Ramadan fast.
“You’re to preach for peace and unity during the fasting period,” he said; stating that instead of attacking one another based on sectarian differences among various communities.
He, therefore, called on the media not to be hoodwinked by preachers inciting people and creating problems in the state.
On peaceful coexistence, the Director of DSS, Mamman Murtala, said that Islam enjoined Muslims to promote peaceful coexistence among various communities.
He noted that the hardship experienced in Borno due to 13-year insurgency was enough to teach the people the value of peace.
According to him, there is the need to ensure that only clerics cleared by the preaching board were allowed to preach
Secretary of the Islamic Religious Preaching Board, Mohammed Shettima reiterated the readiness of the board to ensure that only certified clerics preach in the state.
The law on preaching empowers the Governor and the preaching board to ban any cleric that preach to cause public disorder and violence.
