Boko Haram Are Criminals Misrepresenting Islam – OIC

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L), WELCOMING THE SECRETARY GENERAL, ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC),  MR EYAD AMEEN MADANI, DURING HIS COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA ON MONDAY
PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L), WELCOMING THE SECRETARY GENERAL, ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC), MR EYAD AMEEN MADANI, DURING HIS COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN ABUJA ON MONDAY. PHOTO CREDIT: NAN

The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) of which Nigeria is a member, on Monday declared that members of the violent Boko Haram sect are not acting in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

The Secretary General of IOC, Eiyadd Amin Madani, made the remark while speaking with State House correspondents after the group met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential villa, Abuja.

According to Madani, members of the sect are criminals hiding under the cover of Islam.

He said the organization was in Abuja to pay condolence visit to President Jonathan over the several deaths and destruction caused by Boko Haram activities in Nigeria.

He said: “We are here primarily to listen to His Excellency, his vision about the OIC on the priorities of the OIC in the years to come. We also here to express our solidarity with Nigeria in facing up to this terrorist organization and to condemn the terrorist acts they have been committing and to show our condolences to Nigerian people and to the families of those who have been affected.

“The OIC has already issued statements and we are very clear that these people are outlaws. What they do is criminal acts that have nothing to do with Islam, Islamic teaching, the religion and history of Islam, the culture and civilization of Islam and we should identify them for what they are, a terrorist group. So, we listen to His Excellency the President and the Foreign Minister as well.”

“We offered anything that the OIC could do or expressing its supports, its willingness to be actively involved in facing up to this terrorist group”.