Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, the Supreme Council for Shariah in Kaduna, and the State Police Command have responded to protests by residents after a Muslim man allegedly slaughtered and distributed dog meat to his sect members.

Reports indicate that this incident occurred in the Nasarawa community of the state, leading to outrage among Muslim believers. Youth from the community protested and attempted to confront the man at his residence and Islamic school, expressing disappointment with his actions, which they believed contradicted Islamic teachings.

Ismail Abubakar Rijana, speaking on behalf of the sect, argued against the belief that eating dogs was prohibited in the Quran. He stated, "We are Muslims and followers of the Quran only. We believe in the Quran as a religious book. However, the way we practice Islamic religion is different from how others practice it. Nigeria’s constitution gives us the right to practice our beliefs. So, based on our knowledge of the Quran, no verse prohibits the eating of dogs. But we are ready to change and seek God’s forgiveness if we are convinced with verses in the Quran that we are wrong."

Some residents confirmed that dog meat was used to prepare soup, which was shared among the students of the school. Adam Muhammad, a counselor for the area, also confirmed the incident but stated that the community had become calm due to the deployment of security personnel to maintain order.

In response to the controversy, the Kaduna State chapter of the Supreme Council for Shariah condemned the sect's actions, asserting that dog meat is prohibited as meat in Islam according to the teachings of the Prophet. The council emphasized the importance of adhering to the sources of Islamic Law, including the Quran, the tradition of the Prophet (SAW), and the consensus of Ullama.

The council's secretary in Kaduna, Abdulrahaman Hassan D, emphasized that true Muslims should adhere to these basic Islamic principles of jurisprudence and pointed to specific Quranic verses and Hadiths that prohibit the consumption of animals with fangs.

The council urged Muslims to refrain from engaging in controversial matters that could affect their faith and called on youth to report any observed anomalies within society to the appropriate authorities rather than taking matters into their own hands.