“If you blow up yourself or kill people shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, you are going to hell”, Sultan of Sokoto declares

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTER, Abuja

On those who carry out violence in the name of religion, he said, “Somebody can go to the market, blow his or herself up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives.’’

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, in a full text of his address at the 2026 First Triennial Meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) held in Abuja on Wednesday May 6, 2026, pushed back against the idea that one can hide under the shade of religion to commit shed innocent blood and still believe God will grant him reward.

The Sultan, who said those who kill people while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ have nowhere to end their lives except hell as, according to him, it is not possible to plant onion and harvest vegetable. What one sows he shall reap.

The Co-Chairman of NIREC, who noted that much of the violence often described as religious is being misunderstood, deepening suspicion and mistrust, dismissed fears of a religious agenda in Nigeria.

He made these at the Abuja meeting of the inter-religious council meeting, adding that Muslims have not at any time been and are not planning to wipe out Christians, urging a reset in how the country understands its conflicts.

The Sultan spoke alongside President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, also a co-chairnan of NIREC, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. At the meeting all the religions and government leaders agreed that the way forward laid in dialogue, trust and a stronger push for religious literacy.

In the words of the Sultan said, “Today, as I stand here, I want to affirm that Muslims are not in a hurry and are not planning anything like decimating the population of Christians in Nigeria.

“We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christians from Nigeria. No, it is not possible.’’

He stressed that both faiths must coexist in an environment of stability, respect and understanding of one another, and urged Nigerians to rethink how insecurity is described, even as he warned against attaching religion to criminal acts.

“Let us get the narrative right, it is not about religion. Let us stop bringing religion into it. Let us call them what they are; criminals. Not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits. Even if someone claims to be Muslim, what they do goes against Islam,’’ the Sultan said.

Linking the problem to ignorance, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar warned against false claims of religious authority, adding that “the fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important.’’

The Sultan repeatedly advocated return to dialogue, describing it as the only workable path. “In NIREC, we believe in dialogue. No matter how bad things are, we believe in dialogue. When talking, you need to understand one another, not just tolerate.

“If you do not believe me, what else can you do? You cannot open my heart to see what is inside. We must trust one another,” he said.

On those who carry out violence in the name of religion, he said, “Somebody can go to the market, blows his or herself up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives.’’

Earlier in his remarks, CAN President, Daniel Okoh, framed the conversation around education and understanding, warning against reducing religion to stereotypes.

“Religious literacy is not merely the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals. It is the cultivation of awareness, sensitivity and respect for the beliefs and practices of others,” Archbishop Okoh said.

While noting that many tensions were wrongly labelled, the CAN president said: “Across various parts of our nation, we continue to witness tensions that are sometimes framed along religious lines, even when their root causes may be social, economic, or political.’

The Christian leader stated that NIREC had continued to demonstrate the possibility of cooperation across faith lines.

“Through NIREC, we have demonstrated that despite our religious differences, we share common values of peace, justice, dignity of human life, and the well-being of our nation,” Archbishop Okoh said.

In his remarks, the SGF, George Akume, linked understanding directly to national stability.

“Where there is ignorance, suspicion can take root. Where there is misunderstanding, conflict can arise. But where there is knowledge and empathy, trust can flourish,” George Akume said.

While warning against divisive narratives, he called for stronger institutional support, particularly through education.

He said: “Education plays a crucial role… Schools, universities, and community institutions must prioritise inclusive and accurate teaching about religions and worldviews. We must challenge our assumptions and resist narratives that seek to divide us.’’

On security and education, he added: “We must do everything as a government to ensure that the terrorists who kidnap children who are willing to study must come to an end.”