The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar and co-chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council has decried the rate of killings in the country, adding that dialogue is needed to solve Nigeria’s problems
The Sultan, who is the president of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), speaking at the 3rd quarter meeting of NIREC, said a national dialogue convened by President Muhammadu Buhari was the best option.
He urged the President to give Nigerians an opportunity to ventilate their grievances.
The latest killings took place in Jos, the Plateau State capital and in neighbouring Benue State where scores of people were killed.
Gunmen also breached the security of the nation’s elite military institution – The Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), killing two officers, injured one and abducted another one.
“Why are we afraid of talking to one another? What dialogue can’t solve, definitely violent can’t stop it. We should forget religious sentiment and dialogue and tell ourselves the truth.
“If we want a country, this is the way we should go. The presidency must lead the way. If we do not have the dialogue, we are just walking in the dark. I think dialogue is the best option to solve these problems.”
The sultan is saddened by the killings in Jos, and the attack on NDA.
“We will also ask the Service Chiefs what we can do for them as religious leaders to assist them because it is not all about using the gun. They need spiritual intervention.
“I know we have been doing that in our churches and mosques, praying for peace. I do not think we have ever visited the defence headquarters.”
Decrying the rate of killings, the Sultan said: “We have gotten to the point where unknown gunmen are invading people’s homes. How can they be unknown?
“Where are our intelligence agencies? Don’t we have productive intelligence agencies that will think ahead of anybody trying to do something? I am a military man and I know what I am talking about.
“I think it is important for us to get to the root of this issue. And as religious leaders, we must tell the government the truth. We should not be afraid of saying the truth.”
The Sultan urged governors to stop instigating their people to violence.
Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who co-chairs NIREC, condemned the killings in Jos.
He warned against giving criminality the colourations of religion or ethnicity.
He said: “Nigerians are worried about the state we are in our nation. It is extremely frightening.
“It is time for us to unanimously condemn this criminality without any sentiments.”
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the level of insecurity calls for the deepening of political and religious collaboration.
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong believes criminals hide under religion to cause problems in his state.
He said: “We must work hard to provide the leadership that guilds people to isolate crime from religion, ethnic or political affiliations.
“It is only when we treat criminals as criminals that we can overcome the level of insecurity we are facing in Nigeria.”
