The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, has dismissed claims that Muslims are plotting to wipe out Christians in Nigeria, urging Nigerians to stop linking criminal activities to religion.
The respected traditional ruler made the statement on Wednesday during the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council held in Abuja. ....…
Speaking at the gathering, the Sultan stressed that bandits and other criminal groups should not be described as Muslims simply because they bear Islamic names or come from Muslim-majority communities. According to him, criminals exist across different religions and ethnic groups, and their actions should not be used to judge an entire faith.
He warned that constantly branding bandits as Muslims fuels division and deepens religious tensions in the country.
The Sultan also rejected widespread fears that there is an organised agenda by Muslims to eliminate Christians in Nigeria. He described such narratives as dangerous and misleading, insisting that both Christians and Muslims have lived together peacefully for generations. ....…
According to him, insecurity in Nigeria is a criminal issue and not a religious war. He urged religious leaders, politicians, and citizens to avoid statements capable of inciting hatred or creating unnecessary suspicion among Nigerians.
The meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council brought together religious leaders and stakeholders to discuss national unity, peacebuilding, and cooperation between faith communities amid rising insecurity and political tension across the country.
The Sultan called on Nigerians to focus on unity and collective efforts to tackle insecurity rather than promoting religious stereotypes. He added that peace can only thrive when citizens see one another first as Nigerians and not through religious or ethnic divisions.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over insecurity, banditry, and attacks in several parts of the country, especially in northern Nigeria, where religious interpretations of violence have continued to spark public concern and political arguments.
