Shariah Council Tells US No Foreign Power Can Force Nigerian Muslims to Abandon Shariah

Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCAN)

Shariah Council Tells US No Foreign Power Can Force Nigerian Muslims to Abandon Shariah

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has declared that the practice of Shariah in Nigeria is divinely mandated, constitutionally protected, and central to Muslim life, warning that no foreign power can compel Nigerian Muslims to abandon it. The council’s statement was issued in response to a recent report by United States lawmakers, including Riley Moore and Chris Smith, who investigated alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria and recommended the repeal of Shariah and blasphemy laws, the creation of a US–Nigeria security pact, and penalties or visa restrictions for alleged violators of religious freedom.

In a statement, the council’s Secretary‑General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, said the US report mischaracterized Nigeria as a site of “Christian genocide” and unfairly challenged the rights of Nigerian Muslims to practice their faith. “Shariah constitutes a comprehensive way of life for Muslims, encompassing spiritual, moral, social, and legal dimensions. It is the divinely ordained framework through which Muslims regulate their personal and communal affairs,” the council said, emphasising that Shariah courts operate legally within the country’s constitutional provisions.

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The SCSN stressed that any attempt to criminalize, delegitimize, or externally dictate Shariah practice would threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty and religious freedom. The council also cautioned that simplistic narratives could inflame tensions, deepen mistrust, and undermine peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. It further rejected the “Christian genocide” narrative, stating that Nigeria’s security challenges — including terrorism, banditry, organised crime, and governance issues — affect people of all faiths.

“The council unequivocally condemns all killings across Nigeria, mourns every innocent life lost, and rejects politicisation of human suffering,” the statement said, urging authorities to take decisive action to end insecurity and restore public confidence through justice and accountability.

As Muslims observe Ramadan, the SCSN called on the Ummah to intensify prayers, remain law-abiding, and continue to live peacefully with all Nigerians. “Nigeria belongs to all of us. Our faith is not negotiable, our Constitution is clear, and our sovereignty must be respected by other nations and protected by our government,” the council added.

The Nigerian government has separately maintained that the nation’s ongoing security crisis is rooted in complex threats such as terrorism and communal conflicts rather than policies of religious bias, reiterating its commitment to protecting the rights of Christians, Muslims, and adherents of other faiths. Observers say the exchange underscores the sensitivity of discussions around Shariah, religious freedom, and sovereignty in a diverse nation like Nigeria, where debates over legal systems, constitutional rights, and security often intersect.