Sultan: Stop Calling Bandits Fulani, Label Them Criminals

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has reaffirmed that banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality have no connection with Islam, stressing that such acts should never be linked to any religion or ethnic group.

According to reports, the Sultan made the remarks while receiving members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at his palace in Sokoto.

The revered monarch, who also serves as President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), described Islam as a religion built on peace, justice and the protection of human life. He maintained that individuals involved in criminal activities should simply be identified as criminals, rather than being associated with any ethnic, religious or tribal identity.

He emphasized that Islam strictly forbids the killing of innocent people and encourages peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds through compassion, tolerance, mutual understanding and respect.

The Sultan urged Nigerians to stop attaching ethnic or religious labels to criminals, insisting that crime has no tribe or religion. According to him, anyone found guilty of criminal acts should be referred to only as a criminal, regardless of their name, faith or ethnic background.

Addressing the corps members, he advised them to remain vigilant throughout their service year, respect the traditions and cultural values of their host communities, and make meaningful contributions to national development.

He also encouraged the NYSC members to disregard negative stereotypes about Sokoto State, assuring them that they would witness the peaceful and hospitable nature of the people during their stay.

The Sultan further cautioned against believing or sharing unverified information, particularly content circulated on social media, urging the corps members to always verify facts before spreading reports.

He noted that giving attention only to negative stories while ignoring positive developments only strengthens misinformation and fear, adding that truthful reporting and sharing of verified experiences contribute to national unity and the advancement of society.

Reiterating his position, the Sultan stressed that criminality transcends religious and ethnic boundaries, noting that individuals arrested for offences such as kidnapping often come from different backgrounds. He maintained that once a person commits a crime, their religion, tribe or name becomes irrelevant, as they should simply be regarded as a criminal.