Gov Aliyu warns religious extremists off Niger
National News Sep 22, 2009

By Wole Mosadomi

Minna – The Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has warned religious extremists, who hide under religion to cause disaffection between the people of Niger State and the state government, to steer clear of the state.

Governor Aliyu sounded the warning when he addressed hundreds of people from Minna emirate led by the Emir, Dr Umar Farouk Bahago at the Minna Durbar 2009, as part of the Eid el-fitri celebration.

Aliyu was particular about incidences of Islamic preachers using inciting utterances and preaching to malign the state government in order to create disaffection against the government.

He was, apparently, reacting to criticisms that trailed his recent deportation of Darul-islam Islamic religious sect from Niger State and the circulation of leaflets in order to incite the people against the state government. However, he said he will have no place for such people in his territory.

He accused members of the Daru-Islam sect of wife swapping and isolation from other fellow muslims, describing them as too evil to be accepted by not only Islam, which they claim to proclaim, but the government and people of Niger State, pointing out that the enclave which started with just 18 people grew to over 5,000 within a spate of 17 years.

“Religious extremists, like militants in their characteristics do not consider the extent of damage they do to the society which they also belong in carrying out their destructive agenda,” Aliyu stated, pointing out that government has put in place policies that would check mate the activities of such preachers.