Lekki Central Mosque Chief Imam Urges Nigerian Government To Execute Convicted Killers Among Kidnappers, Terrorists, Bandits, Cites Quranic Injunction

Ikeja, Lagos State — The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu, has called on the Nigerian government to adopt what he described as the Quranic punishment for convicted kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and armed robbers who kill innocent people, arguing that implementing such provisions would help restore peace and security across the country.

Speaking during his Friday sermon, Dr. Jamiu appealed to the government to implement the provisions contained in Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 33, saying God had already provided solutions to insecurity but that people had failed to follow them.

Addressing worshippers, the Islamic cleric said anyone involved in banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery or treason who is apprehended and found to have killed innocent people while carrying weapons should face capital punishment.

“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,” he said.

Dr. Jamiu explained that, according to his interpretation of the Quran, those who wage armed violence against society are regarded 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 the punishment should depend on the nature of the offence committed, adding that those who killed innocent people while armed should receive the death penalty.

“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.

“They should be put to death. If they are to be crucified, they should remain on the cross until they die, after which they may be taken down for burial according to their religion.”

He added that where offenders only stole property without killing anyone, the punishment prescribed in the Quran was the amputation of the right hand and left foot.

“If all they did was steal property without killing anyone—if they only committed robbery—then when they are captured, their right hand and left foot should be amputated. That is the punishment for them.”

According to him, individuals who neither killed nor stole but were apprehended while carrying weapons and spreading fear should be imprisoned or banished.

“If they neither killed anyone nor stole anyone’s property, but they were caught while spreading terror and carrying weapons, then they should be banished from the land and imprisoned.

“That is what the Quran says.”

Dr. Jamiu stressed that Islam should not be associated with terrorism, insisting that the religion promotes peace and social order.

“These are the punishments prescribed in Islam for anyone who is a terrorist or a bandit. Islam is not a religion of terrorism. It is a religion of peace.”

The Chief Imam also urged the Nigerian government to adopt the Quranic provisions as part of efforts to address the country’s worsening security challenges.

“I appeal to our government: adopt this ruling from the Holy Quran and implement it in our country, Nigeria. All the problems we keep complaining about—you will see them disappear. There will be no more fear. God has already provided solutions for every problem we face; it is we who ignore them.

“I plead with our government: take this ruling from the Holy Quran and apply it in Nigeria, then see what happens. We will have peace.

“This is what we see that God has ordained for us. God desires peace and tranquility among us.”