Distance yourselves from those who preach violence —Buhari tells Muslims

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concerns that violent
extremist ideas sometimes shown by some Muslims give Islam a wrong
name.

He, therefore, urged Muslims to distance themselves from those
who preach violence.

Buhari spoke on Sunday during his Eid-el-Kabir message to the
nation, as made available by his Special Assistant On New Media,
Bashir Ahmad, via his verified Twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad.

The President stated, “I wish all Muslims in Nigeria and around
the world happy and joyous Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

“The greatest commitment Muslims can show to Islam is to put its
good virtues into practice, and to make justice and righteousness
the guiding principle of everyday life.

“Muslims should strive to be the mirror through which others see
the good virtues of our faith.

“Islam is a religion of peace, and we should reject violent
extremist ideas that give Islam a wrong name, because our conduct
leaves more lasting positive impressions than our words.”

Continuing, the President said, “The only way we can neutralise
the evil that is violent extremism is to distance ourselves from
the activities and teachings of those who preach violence against
innocent people — which flies in the face of the teachings of
Islam.

“Boko Haram became a deadly force and a major security scourge
because Muslim societies were indifferent from the beginning to the
activities of extremist preachers who manipulate innocent and
gullible followers.

“Extremism is like a cancer, which must be detected and
destroyed from its early stages of growth.

“It is noteworthy that despite occasional setbacks, Boko Haram
have been so militarily weakened and scattered by our Armed Forces
that they are no longer in a position to occupy any part of
Nigeria, let alone hoist their flag and impose their reign of
terror longer than 24 hours.

“As our armed forces get more equipped and trained, in addition
to being more motivated and reinvigorated, this administration is
relentlessly committed to protecting Nigerians, no matter what it
takes to bring a permanent end to this evil.

“And this assurance applies not only to Boko Haram terrorism,
but also to the challenges of kidnapping, cultism and other forms
of banditry.

“All will be dealt with uncompromisingly, until we see the back
of these evils plaguing our country.”

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