The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed fears that Muslims are pursuing any agenda to target or eliminate Christians in Nigeria, insisting that such suspicions are misplaced and fuel unnecessary tension.
He made the comments on Wednesday at the first triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja, where he spoke alongside the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
According to him, many violent incidents frequently labelled as religious are being wrongly interpreted, which only deepens mistrust between communities.
He urged Nigerians to be more careful in how they describe insecurity, stressing that criminal acts should not be assigned religious identity.
As he put it, “We need to properly understand what is happening around us. It is not a religious war. We should stop attributing these acts to Islam or Christianity. Those responsible are criminals, and they should be called that, regardless of the names they use.”
He added that individuals who commit violence while claiming religious justification are acting outside the teachings of their faith.
“Even if someone says they are doing it in the name of religion, such actions are completely against its true message,” he said.
The Sultan also cautioned against misplaced religious authority, explaining that fluency in Arabic or any language does not automatically make one a religious scholar or leader.
“Knowing Arabic does not make anyone a Sheikh. It is just a language. Real religious authority comes from deeper knowledge and proper learning,” he noted.
He further stressed that dialogue remains the only sustainable path to peace.
“At NIREC, we believe strongly in dialogue. No matter how difficult the situation is, dialogue is the way forward. But dialogue requires understanding, not just tolerance,” he said.
He also called for stronger trust among citizens, adding, “You cannot open my heart to see what I carry inside. That is why trust is very important if we are going to live together peacefully.”
Addressing extremists who justify violence in the name of religion, he condemned their actions in strong terms.
“Someone can go and commit atrocities and shout religious slogans, but that does not make it right. Those who kill innocent people will face consequences for it,” he warned.
Earlier, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, emphasized the need for religious literacy, describing it as essential for peaceful coexistence.
“Religious literacy goes beyond knowing doctrines or rituals. It is about developing awareness, respect, and sensitivity toward the beliefs of others,” he said.
He noted that many conflicts are wrongly framed as religious when they are actually driven by social, political, or economic issues.
“In many parts of our country, tensions are labelled as religious, even when their root causes are not,” he added.
Archbishop Okoh also highlighted the role of NIREC in promoting unity, stating, “Through NIREC, we have shown that despite our differences, we share common values such as peace, justice, and respect for human life.”
On his part, SGF George Akume linked peace to education and understanding, warning that ignorance fuels division.
“Where there is ignorance, suspicion thrives. Where there is misunderstanding, conflict grows. But where there is knowledge and empathy, trust becomes possible,” he said.
He urged stronger efforts to promote accurate religious education, adding, “Schools and institutions must teach people to understand different faiths properly. We must challenge harmful narratives that divide us.”
Akume also called for intensified action against insecurity, particularly kidnappings targeting schoolchildren, saying, “We must do everything possible as a government to ensure that those who abduct children simply because they want to study are brought to an end.”
