The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared that individuals who kill innocent people in the name of Islam, including suicide bombers shouting “Allahu Akbar”, are destined for hell.
The monarch made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 first triennial meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, where he warned against the growing tendency to link criminality with religion.
In a strongly worded address, the Sultan said no act of violence carried out under the guise of religion would earn divine reward, stressing that perpetrators would face eternal consequences.
“Somebody can go to the market, blow himself up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives,” he said.
He added that it was misleading to label crimes as religiously motivated, insisting that perpetrators should simply be identified as criminals.
“Let us get the narrative right; it is not about religion. Let us stop bringing religion into it. Let us call them what they are — criminals. Not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits,” he stated.
The Sultan also dismissed insinuations of any agenda by Muslims to eliminate Christians in Nigeria, describing such claims as baseless and dangerous.
“Muslims are not in a hurry and are not planning anything like decimating the population of Christians in Nigeria. We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christians from Nigeria. It is not possible,” he said.
He emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence, urging Nigerians to embrace mutual respect, understanding, and trust across religious lines.
Highlighting the role of ignorance in fuelling extremism, the Sultan cautioned against false claims of religious authority, noting that fluency in Arabic does not equate to sound Islamic knowledge.
“The fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important,” he said.
He further advocated sustained dialogue as the only viable path to resolving inter-religious tensions.
“In NIREC, we believe in dialogue. No matter how bad things are, we believe in dialogue. When talking, you need to understand one another, not just tolerate,” he added.
Also speaking, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stressed the importance of religious literacy in fostering national unity.
“Religious literacy is not merely the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals. It is the cultivation of awareness, sensitivity and respect for the beliefs and practices of others,” Okoh said.
He noted that many conflicts in the country were often wrongly framed along religious lines, even when their root causes were social, economic, or political.
“Across various parts of our nation, we continue to witness tensions that are sometimes framed along religious lines, even when their root causes may be social, economic, or political,” he added.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, also underscored the link between knowledge and national stability, warning that ignorance breeds suspicion and conflict.
“Where there is ignorance, suspicion can take root. Where there is misunderstanding, conflict can arise. But where there is knowledge and empathy, trust can flourish,” Akume said.
He called for strengthened investment in education and urged institutions to promote inclusive and accurate teaching about religions.
“Schools, universities, and community institutions must prioritise inclusive and accurate teaching about religions and worldviews. We must resist narratives that seek to divide us,” he said.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by religious and government leaders to deepen dialogue, promote trust, and tackle insecurity without resorting to divisive religious narratives.
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