By Abiola Olawale
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared that there is “no Christian genocide” ongoing in Northern Nigeria.
The Sultan stressed that while the North is grappling with severe and tragic insecurity, including relentless attacks, kidnappings, and killings, the violence is rooted in complex factors—namely organized criminality, terrorism, and banditry—not a targeted, religious-ethnic purging.
The monarch said Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for centuries in the North, adding that reports suggesting otherwise are deliberate attempts to create tension and disunity among the people.
He made this known while speaking at the meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
“From time immemorial, Christians and Muslims have lived as brothers in the North. These allegations are false and are merely aimed at sowing discord among the inseparable faithful,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the traditional rulers’ support for the military and the Federal Government in their continued fight against insecurity.
“Without the military, we wouldn’t be here holding this meeting comfortably. Therefore, we must encourage them to do more,” he said.
The Sultan also expressed concern over the reckless use of social media, urging the Federal Government to take steps to regulate its use. He revealed that he had personally been a victim of misinformation circulated online.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in his keynote address, called on traditional rulers to deepen community engagement in support of the military’s operations against insurgents and bandits.
“The days of bandits and insurgents in the Northeast, Northwest, and across the country are numbered. We will defeat them — they will not defeat us,” he declared.
General Musa stressed that the fight against insecurity requires collective effort, noting that traditional institutions play a crucial role in restoring peace and stability.
The New Diplomat reports that Sultan’s statement came after some United States lawmakers pushed for the sanctioning of Nigerian officials for allegedly condoning Christian genocide in the country.
