As Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir today, President Muhammadu Buhari has advised that the greatest commitment to Islam was for them to put its virtues into practice by making justice and righteousness the guiding principle of their everyday life.

Mr Buhari in his Sallah message, urged Muslims to be the mirror through which others see the good virtues of their faith.

“Islam is a religion of peace and we should avoid violent extremist ideas that give Islam a wrong name because our conducts leave more lasting positive impressions than what we say by word of mouth.

“Violent extremism is the greatest challenge facing Islam today and the only way we can neutralise its evil influence is to distance ourselves from activities and teachings of those who preach indiscriminate violence against innocent people. And this flies in the face of the teachings of Islam,” he said.

Buhari advised parents to protect their children from the deadly exposure to violent extremists who manipulate and exploit them for their own evil agenda.

“Boko Haram became a deadly force and a major security scourge because Muslim societies were indifferent from the beginning to activities of extremist preachers who manipulate innocent and gullible followers.

“Extremism is like a cancer, which must be detected and destroyed from its early stages of growth,” the President said.

Buhari, however, assured Nigerians that Boko Haram terrorism, kidnappings and other forms of banditry, “would be dealt with uncompromisingly until we see the back of these evils plaguing our country.”

“Despite occasional setbacks, Boko Haram militants have been so militarily weakened and scattered by our Armed Forces that they are no longer in a position to occupy any part of Nigeria, let alone hoist their flag and impose their reign of terror longer than 24 hours,” he said.

Meanwhile, Buhari and his Guinean counterpart, Mr Alpha Conde will today celebrate Eid-el-Kabir Sallah in Daura.

Conde yesterday joined Buhari who had arrived Daura on Friday. The Guinean president landed at the helipad located at GRA area of Daura via a Presidential Chopper around 5:17pm. He was received by President Buhari, Katsina State governor, Mr Aminu Masari, Emir of Daura, Mr Umar Faruk, and other dignitaries. From the helipad, the President and his visitor walked to the residence, a distance of about 10 minutes.

Daily Trust