Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, has dismissed claims that Muslims in Nigeria are pursuing an agenda to eradicate Christianity, describing such narratives as false and dangerous to national unity.
Speaking on Wednesday at a dialogue organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja, the Sultan stressed that Muslims and Christians must continue to coexist peacefully and work together for the country’s stability.
“We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christianity from Nigeria. It is not possible,” he said.
“The Muslims in Nigeria are not planning anything like dismissing the population of Christians in Nigeria.
“As Allah had decided to bring us together, he knows why he brought us together.
“We believe we must live together in an environment of peace, stability, respect, and understanding of one another.”
The Sultan noted that conflicts in different parts of the country often reflect the dominant population in those areas and should not automatically be interpreted as religious wars.
“Of course, when you have a problem in Benue or Plateau, for example, the majority might be Christians because of the area. If you have a problem in Sokoto, Maiduguri or somewhere else, the majority will be Muslims,” he added.
He also cautioned against linking criminality and terrorism to religion, warning that such narratives distort reality and deepen divisions among Nigerians.
“Stop saying they are Islamic terrorists. Terrorists and bandits are criminals, not Muslim criminals. There are more Muslims killed in all this madness called banditry or terrorism,” he said.
Condemning extremists who use religion to justify violence, the Sultan declared:
“You build yourself up, go somewhere, blow yourself up and say ‘Allahu Akbar!’ Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. Don’t think you are going to heaven. You are going to hell for taking the lives of innocent people.”
He emphasised the importance of dialogue, mutual respect, and continuous engagement among Nigerians despite the country’s challenges, urging citizens to remain committed to peaceful coexistence and national unity.
