Muslim leaders tasked to intensify surveillance for potential militant elements in local communities

Muslim leaders in the Ashanti Region say they are working with other stakeholders to ward off potential threat of terrorist activities in local communities.

Regional Chief Imam, Sheik Abdul Mumin Harun, says community leaders have already been tasked to be on the look-out for suspicious characters that may lure the youth into such deadly groups.

He spoke with Nhyira FM following reports a graduate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has joined terrorist group, Islamic State.

Recently, at the Eid Fitr prayer, Sheikh Mumin Harun advocated local monitoring groups to identify potential terrorist elements for prompt attention and action by appropriate agencies.

According to Sheikh Mumin Harun, the Muslim Community in the region received with shock, news of 25-year old Nazir Nortey Alema’s association with ISIS.

He says young volunteers should be deployed to gather information and make it available to security agencies, though community leaders.

“They have to enter all nooks and corners. When they see they are doing terrorism, they inform authorities so that authorities can work with that. But if we leave ourselves just like that, we are going to suffer for that terrorism”. Sheik Harun warned.

He describes activities of terrorist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram as un-Islamic and affront to the Islamic beliefs and principles.

Sheik Harun says local leaders have been tasked to embark on youth retreats and investigate infiltration of possible ISSIS agents in communities. In addition the leadership will meet with the family of Nazir to offer support.

“We Muslims we don’t support it. We condemn it and it’s not good for Ghanaians to join that association. We know the family so we will talk to the family if, may be, he [Nazir] has convinced some of the boys, we have to meet and talk to them.

I advise all Muslim brothers and sisters in Ghana here not to join the association. Its un-Islamic and we are against that”. Sheik Harun emphasized.

Meanwhile, Sheik Haruna has promised government of the support of the Moslem Community in tackling terrorism which he says is a threat to national peace.

Story by Ghana/Nhyira Fm/Ohemeng Tawiah