At a recent special summit of Northern Ulamas in Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, along with other prominent Muslim leaders, issued a strong warning that Nigeria is at risk of descending into chaos due to worsening insecurity. The summit addressed a range of security and social issues, calling for decisive action to be taken before the situation spirals out of control.
Key Concerns and Calls to Action
The Sultan, who was represented at the summit, emphasized the need for unity among the Muslim community and a collective effort to address the root causes of violence. He highlighted two major areas of concern:
- Rising Insecurity: The leaders noted that the security crisis, which began in Muslim-dominated areas, has now spread across the country. They cautioned against solely blaming the government, urging communities to take responsibility and engage in dialogue.
- Misuse of Social Media: The Sultan specifically pointed to the growing use of social media to spread division, hatred, and fake news. The leaders called for a regulation of social media to promote responsible use and national unity.
Statements from Other Leaders
- Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara West) echoed the Sultan’s call for community-led solutions, stating, “Insecurity started in Muslim-dominated areas. We can’t blame the government alone. The solution lies in our hands—in unity, action, and honest dialogue.” He also urged Nigerians to face economic realities, stating, “We’re sleeping in our rooms and expecting to become billionaires. It doesn’t work that way.”
- Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, a prominent Islamic scholar, attributed banditry to external forces exploiting poverty and using uneducated herders as “pawns.” He called for internal dialogue among Islamic sects to address these issues.
- Alhassan Doguwa, Leader of the House of Representatives, pledged the support of the National Assembly for any initiative that promotes peace and upholds Islamic values.
Collective Resolution
The summit concluded with a collective resolution to strengthen inter-sect cooperation, promote peaceful dialogue, and enhance religious leadership to tackle the multifaceted challenges of insecurity, disunity, and economic hardship across Northern Nigeria. The leaders also advocated for a review of laws on social media defamation to promote responsible use of the platforms.
