Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has declared that anyone who kills innocent people while shouting “Allahu Akbar” is destined for hell, stressing that no religion supports violence against humanity.
Speaking during the 2026 First Triennial Meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, held in Abuja on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Sultan rejected the notion that religion could be used to justify bloodshed in the pursuit of divine reward.
The Sultan said those who commit violent acts in the name of Islam are acting contrary to the teachings of the faith.
According to him, “Somebody can go to the market, blow himself 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 Co-Chairman of NIREC also dismissed claims of a hidden religious agenda in Nigeria, insisting that Muslims have no plans to wipe out Christians in the country.
“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 said.
The Sultan argued that many violent incidents described as religious conflicts are often misunderstood, thereby deepening suspicion and mistrust among Nigerians.
“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,” he added.
He further linked insecurity and extremism to ignorance and false claims of religious authority.
“The fact that you understand Arabic does not make you a Sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important,” he stated.
The Sultan repeatedly emphasised dialogue as the only sustainable path to peace and national unity.
“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.
Also speaking at the meeting, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Daniel Okoh, said religious literacy goes beyond understanding doctrines and rituals.
“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.
He noted that many conflicts labelled as religious often have social, economic or political roots.
“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,” he added.
The CAN president further said NIREC had continued to demonstrate that cooperation across faiths was possible.
“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,” he said.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said ignorance and misunderstanding often fuel conflict.
“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,” Akume said.
He called for stronger institutional support for religious education and urged Nigerians to resist divisive narratives.
“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,” he stated.
On insecurity, Akume added: “We must do everything as a government to ensure that the terrorists who kidnap children willing to study are brought to an end.”
