A Technical Director at Lux Terra Leadership Centre, Majeed Dahiru has alleged that there is the growing aspiration to establish an Islamic State in Nigeria, particularly within Northern Nigeria. He highlighted how politicians have politicized religion, leveraging it to promote the idea of an Islamic State through promises made within the framework of democratic structures.
He drew parallels between emerging groups like Lukarawa and Boko Haram, noting that they share similar ideological foundations with certain institutions in the North. He questioned the distinction between terror groups enforcing moral codes—such as mandating beards in Sokoto and the Hisbah group in Kano. He emphasized the urgent need to address the factors that have made Northern Nigeria a breeding ground for terrorism and radicalization.
He said in an interview with Channels TV from 5:10, ‘There is a desire to re-enact an Islamic State in Nigeria, particularly in the North. Politicians have shared this sentiment to politicize religion to the extent that they began to promise, through politics and democratic structures, the realization of this idea of an Islamic State. And this is through the implementation of Sharia law in the 19 Northern states.
This Lukarawa group, for instance, is like the Boko Haram group before they became violent. They shared the same approximate ideals with these politicians and the political class. What is the difference between a group in Sokoto that is mandating the growing of beards and trying to impose morality, and the Hisbah group in Kano? So, in that sense, we need to roll back all of the elements that have made Northern Nigeria fertile ground for incubating and growing these terror groups.”