The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu, has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to adopt the Quranic punishment for terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and armed robbers, urging authorities to execute those convicted of killing innocent people while carrying out their crimes.
The Islamic cleric made the appeal during his Friday sermon, where he cited Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 33 of the Holy Quran as the basis for his position.
According to him, individuals who take up arms, spread terror and unlawfully kill innocent people should face the death penalty after being apprehended and found responsible for such crimes.
“Anyone who is a bandit, a terrorist, an armed robber, or a kidnapper, anyone who commits treason and seeks to spread chaos—once they are apprehended, if their crime involved killing innocent people, if they carried weapons and killed people unjustly, then they should also be put to death. This is in Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 33,” Imam Jamiu said.
Explaining his interpretation of the Quranic verse, the cleric said those who engage in armed violence against innocent citizens are regarded in Islam as waging war against Allah and His Messenger.
“God says that everyone who wages war against Allah and His Messenger—those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger are those who join armed groups, carry weapons, and use them to spread terror. In Islam, by doing that, you are considered to be fighting against Allah and His Messenger.
“You are causing corruption. God says that when such people are captured, there are four prescribed punishments. Whoever does this should be executed. Or they should be crucified after being killed. Or their right hands and left feet should be cut off (opposite limbs amputated). Or they should be banished from the land—sent away or imprisoned in exile. That is what the scholars have explained.”
The cleric further stated that, according to his interpretation of the Quran, the punishment should depend on the nature of the crime committed.
“Anyone who is a bandit, a terrorist, an armed robber, or a kidnapper, anyone who commits treason and spreads terror—if, after being captured, it is established that they killed innocent people while armed, then they should be executed. That is, if they killed people and also seized people’s property.”
