The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on northerners to unite against banditry and terrorism, stressing that criminals should not be identified by their ethnicity or religion but simply as criminals.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged northerners to work together in confronting banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent crime threatening communities across the region.
The respected traditional ruler said insecurity can only be effectively addressed through unity, cooperation and the collective rejection of criminality regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto, the Sultan said banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal acts have no place in Islam.
He cautioned Nigerians against describing criminals by their ethnic or religious identities, insisting that anyone who commits crimes should simply be called a criminal.
According to him, attaching criminality to particular tribes or religions only fuels division and undermines efforts to build national unity.
The Sultan’s remarks come amid persistent security challenges in several northern states, where security agencies continue operations against armed bandits, terrorists and kidnappers.
He also encouraged corps members to remain security conscious throughout their service year, respect the customs of their host communities and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic.
The monarch stressed that misinformation and ethnic profiling only embolden criminal elements while weakening national cohesion.
The Sultan appealed to community leaders, religious organisations and citizens to support security agencies by promoting peaceful coexistence and providing useful information that could help combat insecurity.
He reiterated that justice must be pursued through lawful institutions and warned against reprisals or collective punishment based on ethnicity or religion.
The Sultan’s appeal adds to growing calls from religious and traditional leaders for stronger collaboration in tackling insecurity across northern Nigeria. As military operations continue against criminal groups, stakeholders say unity, community support and responsible public conduct remain essential to restoring lasting peace in affected communities.