League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, has said contrary to the practice of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Islam is against killing of innocent people irrespective of their religious affiliation.

It also advised governments at all tiers to eradicate corruption and impunity from the polity so as to facilitate growth and development in the country.

This was contained in a statement by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Sheik Habibullahi Adam Al-Ilory and Secretary General, Imam Ahmed Aladesawe, in Lagos recently.

“Islam forbids forcing people to embrace Islam as Allah has stated in the holy Quran that ‘there should be compulsion in religion.”

“There is no provision in Quran that enjoins the killing of innocent people or Christians as Allah has stated emphatically that whatsoever kills an innocent person is perceived to have killed the whole of mankind.”

On the stance of the insurgent group on western education, the clerics said there was no provision whatsoever that forbids education, western or otherwise as “prophet Muhammad himself encouraged all faithful to ‘search for knowledge from the cradle to the grave.’”

The group warned that unless something urgent was done, the level of corruption would further impoverish the masses and affect good governance.

It stated, “In view of the foregoing, we call on governments at all levels to as a matter of urgency and utmost priority to review all relevant laws that slow down our criminal justice system.“

Criminal justice

They should also strengthen all anti-corruption agencies, so as to enable them to combat corruption without fear or favour and review the country’s judicial system to meet up with new challenges.” The clerics also advised the Federal Government to create conducive environment for businesses to thrive by providing cheap and regular supply of electricity and removing bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with business registration.

The league also called on the Federal Government to carry out a thorough investigation into the abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok, Benue State by Boko Haram.