SCSN Demands Accountability Over Nigeria’s Woro Massacre

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has issued a stark condemnation of escalating violence across the country, warning of a “frightening deterioration in national security” following the massacre of over 200 civilians in Kwara State.

In a statement released on Sunday, Secretary General Nafiu Baba Ahmad conveyed the council’s “deepest anguish” over what it termed a renewed wave of “senseless killings, mass violence, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity.” The statement specifically cited the “horrific act of carnage” in Woro village, Kiama Local Government Area, where terrorists were reported to have killed women and children, razed homes, and wiped out entire families.

The SCSN linked the attack to a broader pattern of instability, referencing recent incidents in Kwara, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, and other regions. It argued that the persistent violence, despite repeated government assurances, reveals “a disturbing failure of governance and the security architecture.” The council emphasized that Islam places the highest value on human life, quoting the Qur’an to state that killing one innocent person is akin to killing all of humanity. It unequivocally rejected radicalism and violent extremism as “a betrayal of Islam,” stressing that there is “no justification in Islam for terrorism, mass murder, kidnapping, or the targeting of innocent persons.”

A central demand of the statement was for accountability. The council asserted that when officials fail in their fundamental duty to protect citizens, “both Islamic ethics and democratic norms demand accountability, including appropriate sanctions, removal from office, or honourable resignation.” It urged public office holders to curb “profligacy and excess” and refocus on the core responsibility of security, noting that “leadership is a trust, not a privilege for indulgence.”

While appreciating the sacrifices of security personnel, the SCSN called for urgent, coordinated action from all tiers of government, security agencies, community leaders, and citizens to halt Nigeria’s “dangerous descent into chaos.” The council extended condolences to victims’ families and welcomed the release of some hostages, urging intensified efforts to free all captives and dismantle criminal networks. It concluded that protecting human life is “not optional, it is a sacred obligation.”