"Nigerian Muslim leadership has nothing to do with Al-Qaeda and Im sure none of our affiliate bodies relate with this group, if it ever existed."
More than five national dailies gave prominence on Tuesday to reports that AQIM offered to train and equip Nigerian Muslims.
"We are ready to train your people in weapons, and give you whatever support we can in men, arms and munitions to enable you to defend our people in Nigeria," The Punch, Nigerias leading daily, quoted the AQIM as saying in an email.
Some 553 people, mostly Muslims, are believed to have been killed last month in four days of fighting in the central city of Jos and nearby villages.
"You are not alone in this test. The hearts of Mujahideen are in pain over your troubles and desire to help you as much as possible," said AQIM leader Abu Musab Abdel-Wadoud.
But Muslim leaders urged Nigerian media houses to be more cautious in reporting such sensitive issues.
"The authenticity of this email is very doubtful," said Adegbite.
Dr Abdurrahman Ahmad, Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Islamic Society of Nigeria and a former broadcaster, is equally suspicious.
"I have read the newspapers today, but Im sad to note that there is no particular reference to the website where the story was lifted. Given its history of vibrancy, I expected the Nigerian media to be more investigative," he contended.
"I feel particularly insulted as a Nigerian, as a religious leader, and as a member of the Nigerian press that newspapers could publish such sensitive story without properly investigating it.
"Anybody can sit in the comfort of his room and send out emails under pseudo names. Up till now, nobody knows the real identity of the emails purportedly sent by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and nobody has been brought to book. I call for caution by the Nigerian media."
False Alarm
Ahmad, a leading Islamic voice in Southern Nigeria, denied any presence for Al-Qaeda in Nigeria.
"I know for sure, and I am in a position to know, that no Al-Qaeda cell exists in this country," he told IOL.
In 2008, then Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro raised the alarm over threats by al-Qaeda to launch a terrorist attack in Nigeria.
The US Consulate in Nigeria had in June 2005 claimed there were threats of attacks on Western and US interests in Nigeria by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked groups.
Abdullahi Shuaib, Conference of Islamic Organization (CIO) coordinator, warns that such reports are meant to heighten the ethno-religious tension in the country.
"My reaction to the story is that it is a hoax. It is a dummy and I dont believe in it," he told IOL.
"It is the handiwork of some mischievous fellows who want to add to the confusion in the land," he added.
"They are benefiting from the existing ethnic tension across the land and they know all Nigerians with phobia for Al-Qaeda will be alarmed. They also want to cause confusion in the government and place security on false alert."
Nigeria is a multi-religious society with 50 percent of the population Muslims and 40 percent Christians.
Shuaib urged all Nigerians of all religious and ethnic persuasion to know that the situation in the land calls for reconciliation.
"They should disregard this story which is meant to trigger off crisis and benefit from it.
"No external forces can resolve ethnic crisis anywhere in the world; only the people themselves can sit down and resolve it."
Adegbite, the spokesman of the prestigious NSCIA, agreed.
"We urge our youths not to allow themselves to be misled," he said.
"I make bold to tell you that Nigerian Muslims are peace-loving and will entertain no terrorist action in the name of Islam."
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