Sultan: Banditry, Terrorism Have No Place in Islam, Criminals Should Not Be Linked to Ethnicity or Religion
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime have no place in Islam, urging Nigerians to stop associating criminality with any religion or ethnic group.
The Sultan made the remarks while receiving members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during a courtesy visit to his palace in Sokoto.
He described Islam as a religion founded on peace, justice and respect for human life, stressing that the faith forbids the killing of innocent people and promotes peaceful coexistence among people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
The monarch urged Nigerians to identify offenders simply as criminals rather than attaching ethnic or religious identities to them.
“Give them their proper name, criminals. Don’t call them Fulani, Tiv, Yoruba, Muslim or Christian. Criminality has no religion or ethnicity. Evil people exist everywhere and should be treated as such,” he said.
Addressing the corps members, the Sultan advised them to remain security conscious throughout their service year, respect the customs and traditions of their host communities, and contribute positively to national development.
He also urged them not to be influenced by negative perceptions about Sokoto State, assuring them that they would experience the hospitality and peaceful nature of its people.
The Sultan cautioned against spreading unverified information on social media, encouraging the corps members to confirm facts before sharing reports.
He noted that focusing solely on negative stories helps criminals achieve their objectives, while truthful reporting promotes peace and strengthens society.
Reiterating his position, the Sultan said criminality should never be defined by religion, ethnicity or tribe, pointing out that individuals arrested for kidnapping and other violent crimes bear names from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
According to him, once a person commits a crime, their identity should simply be that of a criminal.
Commenting on the recent killing of Risku Muhammad, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and others who were reportedly ambushed while returning from a peace meeting, the Sultan said the statement issued by the association’s president, Baba Ngelzarma, was intended to prevent reprisals and discourage retaliatory attacks.
He added that the position taken by MACBAN aligns with the longstanding commitment of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and traditional institutions to promote peace and uphold the rule of law.
