Buhari pledges to conduct sociological study on Boko Haram

President Muhammadu Bu­hari yesterday reiterated that his government would com­mission a sociological study on the issues surrounding the menace of Boko Haram insurgency, when the group is eventually routed by the government.

Speaking at the opening cere­mony of the International Islamic Conference on Peace and Nation-building in Abuja, Buhari said the study would help determine the origin, the remote and immediate causes of the movement, its spon­sors, its international connections and steps to prevent its recurrence.

The President noted that the theme and timing of the confer­ence, which is a joint effort be­tween Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa Iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS) based in Nigeria and the Muslim World League, is coming at a time when a large part of the world is grappling with one form of violent conflict or another.

“I assured Nigerians that at the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the government would commission a sociological study to determine the origin, the remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, its in­ternational connections if any, to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence of this evil.

“The outcome of the proceed­ings of this conference will be use­ful in that regard”, said the pres­ident who recalled his earlier mention of the study in his inau­gural speech last

He insisted that Boko Har­am is a mindless, godless group which operates far away from Is­lam, and urged religious and polit­ical leaders to encourage their fol­lowers to be more tolerant of each other; and recognize the rights of others as they want others to rec­ognize their rights to worship and live freely.

Buhari stressed: “To under­score their cruelty and godless­ness, they particularly target the most vulnerable members of the society: children, women and the elderly. No religion approves of such heinous crimes against hu­manity; definitely not Islam nor Christianity, to which two most Nigerians belong.”

Noting that normal people must rise up against terrorism, he said that Islam does not per­mit lawlessness as it frowns at ex­tremism even in normal acts of worship.

“The emergence of any group advocating the contrary is there­fore irreligious and unacceptable. Religious leaders must intensify their efforts to send out the real teachings of their religion in or­der to counter the diabolical ide­ology that motivates the insurgent elements”, he added.