NYSC VISIT: Banditry, terrorism have no place in Islam, Sultan reassures Nigerians

*Explains MACBAN statement on Benue Chairman’s murder, urges Nigerians to reject ethnic profiling

*”We don’t add fuel to fire; we quench it” – Sultan

*NYSC appreciates Sultan, Sokoto Government

By KEMI KASUMU

“Give them their proper name—criminals. Don’t call them Fulani, Tiv, Yoruba, Muslim or Christian. Criminality has no religion or ethnicity. Evil people exist everywhere and should be treated as such,” he said.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has reassured Nigerians that banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and all forms of criminality are completely at variance with the teachings of Islam, urging citizens to reject ethnic and religious profiling and embrace peaceful coexistence.

Details of the multifaceted Leader’s submissions are contained in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto,created Tuesday, June 30, 2026 and circulated to the media.

The Sultan made the remarks while receiving members of the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Sokoto on Monday, June 29, 2026.

Addressing the corps members, the revered traditional ruler, who is also Co-President of World’s Religions for Peace (WRfP), headquartered in New York, described Islam as a religion founded on peace, justice and respect for the sanctity of human life.

According to him, Islam forbids the killing of innocent people and enjoins Muslims to live peacefully with adherents of other faiths, promoting compassion, mutual understanding and good neighbourliness irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

The Sultan condemned the growing tendency to associate crime with particular ethnic or religious groups, insisting that criminals should simply be identified and treated as criminals.

“Give them their proper name—criminals. Don’t call them Fulani, Tiv, Yoruba, Muslim or Christian. Criminality has no religion or ethnicity. Evil people exist everywhere and should be treated as such,” he said.

He urged the corps members to remain security conscious throughout their service year, respect the customs, traditions and values of their host communities, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

MACBAN Statement on Benue Killing

Speaking on the recent murder of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Chairman in Benue State, Alhaji Risku Muhammad, and others who were reportedly ambushed and gruesomely murdered while returning from a peace meeting, the Sultan explained that the statement issued by the association signed by its President Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma, was intended to prevent reprisals and discourage innocent people from becoming victims of retaliatory attacks.

According to him, the position taken was consistent with the long-standing commitment of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and traditional institutions to promote peace and the rule of law.

On the sidelines of the visit, the Sultan had told his Media Team that, “We don’t add fuel to the fire; we quench it. When innocent people are killed, our responsibility is to calm tensions, not inflame them. No one should take the law into his hands because doing so only creates more innocent victims.”

Addressing his visitors, he maintained that those responsible for criminal acts must be arrested and prosecuted through lawful judicial processes rather than through revenge or collective punishment.

Religion Has No Place in Criminality

The Sultan stressed that criminality should never be linked to any religion, ethnicity or tribe.

He noted that people arrested for kidnapping and other violent crimes bear names from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, proving that crime has no religious or ethnic identity.

“Whether a criminal bears a Christian name, a Muslim name, a Yoruba name, a Fulani name, a Hausa name or any other name is immaterial. Once you commit crime, you are simply a criminal,” he said.

Sokoto Remains Most Peaceful

The Sultan encouraged the corps members to disregard negative stereotypes about Sokoto State, assuring them that they would experience firsthand the hospitality and peaceful nature of its people.

He urged them to verify information before believing or sharing reports circulated on social media.

According to him, amplifying false narratives only emboldens criminals, while speaking the truth strengthens society and promotes national unity.

He said, “If you amplify only negative stories and ignore the good happening around you, you help evil to thrive. But when you tell the truth about what you have seen, you help humanity.”

NYSC Appreciates Sultan, Sokoto Government

Earlier, the Sokoto State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Tyoyer Gabriel Ter, had said the visit was to pay homage to the Sultan and seek his blessings and fatherly guidance for the corps members.

He disclosed that 1,151 corps members had been deployed to Sokoto State for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I orientation exercise.

Ter commended the Sultan for his consistent support for the NYSC scheme over the years, particularly his annual donation of a cow to corps members during orientation, describing the gesture as a reflection of his fatherly concern and commitment to their welfare.

He also expressed appreciation to Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu for approving the comprehensive renovation of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Wamakko, describing the intervention as a major boost to infrastructure and the welfare of corps members serving in the state.