Shari’ah Council Defends Kwankwaso, Rejects US “Christian Genocide” Claims

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has defended Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso while strongly rejecting recent claims from the United States alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. The council described such narratives as misleading, harmful, and capable of undermining national unity.

In a statement signed by Nafiu Baba Ahmad, Secretary‑General of the SCSN, the council said accusations that Christians are systematically targeted in Nigeria do not reflect the country’s legal framework or security realities. The council also defended Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, against claims linking him to religious persecution, emphasizing that the allegations are politically and culturally distorted.

The SCSN highlighted that insecurity and violent incidents in Nigeria affect all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation. It warned that external narratives framing the country’s security challenges as a religious genocide could misrepresent facts, exacerbate tensions, and negatively impact interfaith coexistence.

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This position aligns with previous statements from Nigerian government officials who have rejected similar claims, stressing that terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes impact Christians, Muslims, and other groups alike, and that the government remains committed to protecting religious freedom for all citizens under the constitution.

Analysts note that the US claims, including legislative proposals calling for sanctions against Nigerian officials, oversimplify Nigeria’s complex security situation. They argue such narratives risk fueling religious divisions and undermining efforts at peace and national cohesion.

The SCSN reaffirmed its commitment to justice, dialogue, and national harmony, urging Nigerians and the international community to rely on verified data rather than politically motivated claims. The council emphasized that maintaining religious tolerance and unity remains crucial for Nigeria’s stability and development.

Shari’ah Council Defends Kwankwaso, Rejects US “Christian Genocide” Claims

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

Hundreds of millions of naira worth of goods were destroyed in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, following violent protests targeting northerners after the killing of a local resident in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area. The unrest has heightened ethnic tensions and drawn attention to security and community relations in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

The crisis began after Nchelem Samuel Festus, an indigene of Igwuruta, allegedly stole a motorcycle from a shop owned by northerners. During efforts to recover the motorcycle, he was reportedly stabbed and later died from his injuries. Residents claimed northern commercial motorcyclists were responsible, sparking protests that quickly escalated. Demonstrators also accused northerners of other crimes, including rape and kidnapping, intensifying local tensions.

Protesters blocked the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, demanding an immediate ban on northern motorcycle riders, the closure of scrap dump sites operated by northerners, the arrest of those responsible for Festus’ death, and the vacation of farmlands by cattle herders. They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to security agencies, warning that failure to address their demands could compel the community to act, while claiming their actions would remain within the law.

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Tensions worsened on Saturday, when a wheelbarrow pusher, Zakara Afaaruwu, allegedly stabbed a trader from Benue State, Higightor Wenem (30), at Oil Mill Market during a dispute over trading space. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the arrest of the suspect and said the victim’s body had been deposited at the morgue for autopsy. This incident sparked renewed attacks on northern traders in Igwuruta, with several businesses looted and vandalised.

Speaking on the unrest, Mr Musa Saidu, Chairman of the Hausa Community in Rivers State, urged residents not to criminalise northerners over isolated incidents. He called for calm and emphasised that crimes should be addressed by security agencies rather than retaliated against entire communities. Saidu described the destruction of goods worth hundreds of millions of naira, stating that while many traders suffered losses, no fatalities were reported among northerners during the protests.

The Rivers State Police Command, through Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of suspects linked to the market stabbing and said that law enforcement had acted to restore order. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Chief Charles Wobodo, imposed a nighttime ban on commercial motorcycle operations from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for one month, effective February 12, 2026, to help prevent further incidents.

Traders and residents recounted harrowing experiences during the unrest. Muhammadu Inuwa Abubakar described attacks in Eleme Junction, where ethnic tensions escalated after reports of a Fulani man stabbing a Tiv man. Police intervention helped prevent further casualties, though some residents were injured. Community leaders are working with security agencies to de-escalate tensions and prevent further violence.

The incidents have reignited discussions about ethnic coexistence, law enforcement effectiveness, and peaceful conflict resolution in Rivers State. Authorities and community leaders continue to urge calm while investigating the killings and restoring order in affected communities.

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

28 Wedding Guests Die in Separate Road, Boat Accidents in Enugu, Kebbi

At least 28 people lost their lives over the weekend in tragic road and water accidents in Enugu State and Kebbi State, as wedding guests were returning home after attending marriage celebrations. The incidents have plunged families and communities into mourning, highlighting persistent transportation risks in Nigeria.

In Enugu State, a fatal road crash claimed 14 lives on Saturday evening. Guests from Umuahia, Abia State, who had attended a traditional marriage and wedding ceremony in Amagunze, Nkanu, Enugu State, were returning home when the Toyota Coaster bus carrying them collided head-on with a trailer on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ozalla, and a few metres from the 4-Corner Junction.

Eyewitnesses said the crash occurred around 6:00–6:45 p.m., leaving eleven passengers dead at the scene, with several others dying later from injuries in hospitals in Enugu and Umuahia. Most of the deceased were traders from Bonny Street Market in Umuahia, who had travelled to support the groom, MacDonald Okechukwu, an indigene of Orlu, Imo State. His wife hails from Amagunze, where both the traditional marriage and wedding ceremony were held. Community leaders described the accident as horrific, with families left devastated by the sudden loss of breadwinners and friends.

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Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, another tragedy struck when a boat capsized in Gumbi village, Yauri Local Government Area. The passengers, who had accompanied a bride to her husband’s home in Gwarzo village, Ngaski LGA, were returning when the overloaded boat overturned, throwing more than 100 people into the water. Fourteen people, including 13 women and one child, died in the incident.

Governor Nasir Idris, represented at the funeral prayers by Yauri LGA Chairman Abubakar Shu’aibu, condoled with the families of the victims and urged the community to accept the tragedy as the will of God Almighty. “Nothing happens without the knowledge of our Creator. God does what He wants at the time He wants, and nobody has the right to question Him,” he said.

These separate accidents have drawn attention to road and water safety concerns in Nigeria, particularly during social events and festive periods, when large numbers of people travel long distances. Authorities and community leaders have called for increased safety measures, adherence to traffic rules, and proper regulation of water transport to prevent further tragedies.

The victims’ families and communities are now seeking urgent support for survivors and bereaved families, while mourning the loss of their loved ones in these preventable disasters.

28 Wedding Guests Die in Separate Road, Boat Accidents in Enugu, Kebbi