His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and the head of Nigeria’s Muslim Ummah, has expressed profound worry and dismay at the rise of bombings in Borno State, wondering if the country is reverting to the unsettling era that many thought had past.
Shortly after declaring Friday, March 20, 2026, to be Eid-el-Fitr and announcing the sighting status of the new moon marking the end of Ramadan, the Sultan voiced this issue on Wednesday night while issuing orders to his media staff at the Sultan’s Palace.
In his role as President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Sultan vehemently denounced the recent surge of attacks and urged the military and other security and intelligence organizations to step up their efforts to combat terrorism and insurgency in the nation.
He urged authorities to take proactive steps by battling terrorists at their strongholds rather than responding after attacks occur, stressing that the redeployment of military and security leadership must go beyond normal exercises.
The Chairman of the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria (NTRCN) stated, “Relocation of Army and other security chiefs should not be ceremonial,” in a statement provided to Naija News on Thursday by his media staff.
“Go after the terrorists where they are.” Don’t wait for them to attack before taking action or coming up with solutions. You have to do this so that, as a great nation, we can live in peace.
The Sultan also urged the military to deal with the terrorists in response to the latest bombings in Borno.
He declared, “We strongly condemn this new wave of bomb attacks and demand that the military and other security and intelligence agencies step up their efforts to address these issues of terrorism and insurgency.”
The Sultan categorically declared that such activities have no foundation in Islam and should not be connected to the faith, denouncing the violence as un-Islamic. He also urged the government to firmly eradicate criminal elements throughout the nation and to show great political will in guaranteeing the safety of lives and property for all citizens, regardless of location or background.
This has always been opposed by us. We maintain that it is not Islamic and should not be associated with Islam since it is unIslamic. In order to ensure that the good work being done on peaceful coexistence, unity, and development is demonstrated, the government should muster the political will and power necessary to provide effective security and safety for all people, regardless of their religions and tribes, and to eradicate these criminal elements from both the North and the entire South of the nation,” he stated.
The Sultan reaffirmed that communities are dedicated to fostering harmony, peace, and moral guidance even though they may not know the culprits. He also urged the government to carry out its fundamental duty of protecting the country.
He emphasized that in order to bring peace and stability back to the country, such swift action is required.
He ended by expressing his sincere sympathies to the Kanem-Borno Emirate, the government and people of Borno State, and the families of those impacted by the atrocities. He wished the wounded a quick recovery and prayed for the resting place of the departed in Al-Jannah.
