Another Islamic Group Opposes Operation Amotekun In Osun

By Solomon Odeniyi

The Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Operation Amotekun, has again been rejected by another Islamic group, the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria.

According to the organization while at a press conference on Tuesday in Osogbo, the process that led to the formation of Operation Amotekun was faulty, saying the system has religious colouration.

Osun State Muslim Community had last Monday frowned at the circumstances surrounding the establishment of Amotekun, arguing that the establishment of the security network in the region as highlighted in its nomenclature was unacceptable.

It stated that the Amotekun charter, titled AmotekunGolden Rule, contravenes the spirit of the Nigeria Constitution.

Addressing the press, the National Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Sheik Abdur’raheed Hadiyatullah advised the South-West Governors not to lean towards any religion or target any ethnic group for victimization.

Hadiyatullah stressed that the Governors did not consult properly before unveiling operation Amotekun, claiming that the security outfit has religious coloration.

He said: “The isolation of a sizeable number of the concerned people specifically, the Muslims, who are the majority in the region and some faithful of other religions, by these Governors, especially the five Christians Governors in the deliberation that subsequently produced the planned Amotekun, is nothing but a constructive display of low understanding of religious tolerance on the side of promoters of the security outfit.

“Apart from the reference to birth certificates from churches and letters of reference from pastors, the choice of nomenclature is another controversial issue because it has a strong Christian identity.

“Why ‘Amotekun’ as a name of the security outfit? Research has revealed the Biblical origin of this name and it makes Muslims suspicious. Why Amotekun of all brands?