His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that traditional rulers are more concerned with the spate of killings and insecurity in Nigeria than the average politician in the country.
The sultan, who spoke at the Northern Traditional Ruler’s Council 7th Executive Committee Meeting in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, said they have come together as servants of the nation to discuss contentious security issues in a closed-door meeting.
“Our coming together as traditional rulers in the North, I believe we have more than 86 in the North. We will speak with one voice to say ‘enough is enough’ of this senseless killing of innocent people across the North and across the country.
“We have released so many statements of condemnations, but how many times do we need to condemn these killings before our political leaders and security agencies stop or reduce the insecurity in the country to the barest minimum?
“We, the traditional rulers, feel bad and saddened when our people are killed by people we don’t know. It’s high time we worked harder, talk to ourselves and in closed door meeting discuss it. We shall advise our political leaders, they are at the helm of affairs and we will work with them,” he said.
The sultan, who expressed optimism that the insecurity in the North can be resolved, however, said that will be if the political leaders, traditional and religious leaders and citizens alike are sincere and willing to play their parts.
“As traditional rulers, we are not competing with governors of our states, we are only helping them. We will not and will never be in contention with political leadership or governors,” he said.
In the closed-door meeting, the sultan mentioned that they will discuss all the contentions of insecurity in the country and North in particular.
“Since we are here, we will discuss the happenings in Borno. We heard some comments that Boko Haram is returning, and I say Insha Allah (God willing) Almighty Allah will give us the strength and wherewithal to defeat them.
“Also, our coming here is to put a joint statement that we are all brothers to one another, and whatever we shall do, we must do to help our brothers out,” he said.
He called on the people in the region and the country as a whole to have trust in God, citing the insecurity happening around the world.
“Yes, there is insecurity in some parts of the Borno, but there is insecurity everywhere in the world not only in Nigeria.
“For some of us that have gone round the world will know, more people are being killed in some developed countries everyday than the total amount of people killed in Nigeria in one month or two months,” he said.
He, however, noted that killings are happening in different parts of the country and there is need for collective approach to stem the tide of the ‘endless’, merciless’ killings.
“What happened in Plateau yesterday, and within the week, over 100 people were killed. It’s very bad because people appear from somewhere, kill you and they are never arrested.
“Before them, people were killed in Sokoto on Sallah day, killed in Kebbi, as so many other places. If you put together the total number of people killed in the country in the last one month it is so high,” the sultan said.
He also advised people in the region and across the country to avoid profiling criminals or criminality to a particular tribe, religion or ethnicity, noting that in every tribe or religion, there are good and bad eggs. “So, let’s not look at some people and say they are the cause of our problems.”
The meeting, with theme “Enhanced Security As Panacea For Stability and Development of the North”, was declared open by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who was represented by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Earlier in his remarks, Governor Zulum called on all stakeholders to focus on providing opportunities for the youth in Northern Nigeria.
“Our youth population is large, energetic and eager to contribute, but many are without opportunities. This vacuum is dangerous. We must invest heavily in skills acquisition, vocational education, digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Empowered youths are not only less vulnerable to crime or radicalisation, they become active agents of development,” he said.
Governor Zulum also stressed that agriculture has remained the economic lifeline for the North, hence deliberate effort is needed to enhance farming activities across the region.
Last week Tuesday, at the end of an expanded security council meeting with stakeholders in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum said the state is losing ground to Boko Haram terrorists due to renewed Boko Haram attacks.
He said the terrorists had so far dislodged military formations in Wulgo, Sabon Gari, Wajirko, Izge among others, stressing that the state is at risk of returning to turmoil.
Also, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al Amin El-Kanemi, decried that three local government areas of the state are still under Boko Haram control.
The Shehu noted that the peace in the state is being compromised by settlers who came in disguise as those acquiring Islamic education and other businesses.
However, in a press statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disagreed with Zulum’s claim, emphasising that the administration remains committed to combating terrorism and banditry across the nation.
He argued that the security agencies are working round-the-clock to bring the situation in parts of Borno State under control.
On October 6, 2024, the governor raised grave concerns about the infiltration of Boko Haram insurgents into IDP camps, warning that the militants used these camps as hideouts after committing crimes.
The governor made the revelation during the resettlement of 3,800 displaced persons in Konduga LGA.
In June 2023, he raised similar alarm over renewed attacks by the terrorists on farming communities within the state. Zulum spoke during a condolence visit to five communities in Jere and Mafa LGAs where eight farmers and scavengers were killed.
Before the murder of eight farmers in Shuwari, Kaleri, Tamsu Ngamdua, Baram Karamwa, and Muna communities, there had been similar attacks on farmers in Borno communities around Gwoza.
It could be recalled that the Sultan of Sokoto had alongside other traditional rulers from the North and South, visited Borno on December 14, 2020, where they supported Governor Zulum’s comment, urging the military to take the fight to Lake Chad and rid the place from Boko Haram control.
At the meeting, the Sultan called on the Nigerian military to occupy the Lake Chad region and the Sambisa Forest.
Timeline of killings in the North
On April 14th, 2025, no fewer than 40 people were killed in a midnight attack on Zike community in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.
On April 12, 2025, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents killed eight passengers along Maiduguri – Damboa highway.
On 8th April, 2025, six other people were reportedly killed and about 59 others abducted in separate attacks across communities in Katsina State.
On April 7, 2025, the insurgents returned to Gwoza in large number and attempted to invade the town, but were repelled by troops, hunters and vigilantes.
On April 6, 2025, Boko Haram terrorists attacked a military location at Izge village, Gwoza LGA of Borno State, killing a captain and corporal, and carting away weapons. The attack, which was launched around 1am, also left many Boko Haram fighters dead.
On March 25, 2025, the insurgents also raided two military bases in Wajirko in Damboa and Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala local government areas of Borno State, reportedly killing some soldiers.
On January 11th, 2025, at least 21 government-backed fighters were killed in an ambush by bandits in Katsina State. Katsina police spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the convoy of the fighters was returning from paying condolences to the family of a dead colleague when it came under fire from bandits in the village of Baure, in the Safana district.
On December 24, 2024, the terrorists launched a drone attack on the Forward Operating Base in Damboa LGA and injured at least six soldiers.
On October 26, 2024, the terrorists attacked Chad army garrison bordering Borno State, killed over 40 soldiers and carted away weapons. – Daily Trust.
