Religious tension and insecurity took a dramatic turn on Thursday after the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, openly condemned killings carried out in the name of Islam.
Speaking during the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, the Sultan warned that anyone who kills innocent people while shouting “Allahu Akbar” would face condemnation before God.
The meeting was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders, including CAN President Daniel Okoh and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Addressing participants, the Sultan insisted that criminals should not be linked to religion. He stressed that violence committed by extremists has damaged trust among Nigerians for many years.
“Let us get the narrative right. It is not about religion,” he said.
The respected monarch further urged Nigerians to stop using labels such as “Muslim terrorists” or “Muslim bandits” when discussing violent crimes.
“Let us call them what they are, criminals. Even if someone claims to be Muslim, what they do goes against Islam,” he added.
The warning also focused on the dangers of ignorance and fake religious teachings. According to him, many extremists manipulate religion because people fail to properly understand religious principles.
Furthermore, he warned Nigerians against blindly following individuals who falsely present themselves as religious scholars.
“Somebody can go to the market, blow his or herself up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives,” he said.
The statement comes at a time when concerns over insecurity, terrorism, and religious extremism remain high across parts of the country.
