By Ahmed Akanbi

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, has commended the Nigerian military and the Federal Government for rescuing over 400 victims of terrorism in Borno State this week, while urging urgent steps to secure the release of kidnapped victims in Oyo State.

In a press statement issued Tuesday and jointly signed by National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, and National Secretary, Dr. Nasir Balogun, the group described the Borno operation as “commendable and reassuring” that other captives would soon regain freedom.

The group expressed concern over reports that some Oyo abductees are falling ill, with fears that some might lose their lives.

It appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of the children, their teachers and principal held in captivity “for the sake of humanity”.

The group therefore appealed for early negotiation to free the innocent victims as non-kinetic approach would prevent casualty and collateral damages that usually feature in military action

Commenting on a viral video in which Oyo kidnap victims denied that terrorists demanded the establishment of Sharia law or a N1 billion ransom, the o said the denial “further exposed fake-news purveyors”.

According to the group, Mrs. Racheal Alamu, who identified herself as the wife of a professor in Oyo State, said the abductors “never demanded money, transportation logistics nor forced them to practice Islam”, but were instead “demanding for the release of their leaders arrested since last year”.

MMWG described those spreading contrary claims as “peddling falsehood and fake-news of what terrorists did not demand”.

“In Islam, there is no compulsion in religion’ and that Sharia is already in practice in Nigeria…as in the South West Muslims are still running their Sharia Council without any inhibition whatsoever,” it stated.

While commending the Federal Government “on its war against all criminalities in this country”, the MMWG appealed for the fast-tracking of rescue efforts for victims in Oyo State and “all others across the country”.