The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has issued a warning to individuals who use Islam as a cover for criminal activities, stating that those who kill innocent people while shouting Allahu Akbar are destined for hell.
Speaking at the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, the Sultan, who co-chairs the council alongside CAN President Daniel Okoh, emphasized that violence often labeled as religious is a misrepresentation that fuels national mistrust.
“Let us get the narrative right. It is not about religion. Let us call them what they are—criminals. Not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits,” the Sultan said.
He further attributed the rise of extremism to ignorance and the false claim of religious authority.
He cautioned that linguistic proficiency in Arabic does not equate to being a religious scholar, stressing that the core tenets of Islam strictly forbid the taking of innocent lives.
The Sultan concluded by urging Nigerians to separate faith from criminality to prevent deepening social divisions.
