The committee of FCT imams initiative (CFII) has said religious leaders can help fight insecurity in the country.
Tajudeen Adigun, chairman of CFII said Imams and other religious leaders should be included in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
He spoke at the 17th extraordinary dawrah (conference) of the FCT Imams on Saturday in Abuja, NAN reports.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Unity of Imams as a Forte to the Ummah and Secured Nation’, Adigun stressed that people listen to religious leaders more than politicians.
According to Adigun: “The reality is that people have belief and listen to their imams much more than the politicians.
“This is not to underrate the position of politicians, because Allah has handed over power to them.
“However, politicians should not underrate the influence of imams. If government decides to pay salaries to religious leaders so as to maintain peace, it is not too much.
“When I say religious leaders, I mean generally including the non-Muslim religious leaders, because all religions have influence over their followers.
“In FCT, I can tell you we have so many examples of calamities that when 75 percent of the imams deliver uniform Friday sermons, it will calm the situation.”
Adigun also urged Imams to play a role in the fight against insecurity even if the government refuses to recognize them.
Nigeria is currently passing through serious insecurity challenges.
The country has witnessed a rise in the activities of banditry and kidnapping in the North with Boko Haram also attacking.
Bandits have made students their primary targets.
On Thursday, bandits had attacked the Federal Government College in Birnin-Yauri and abducted students and teachers of the school.
During the incident, one of the abducted students was shot dead.
