By Abdullahi Tukur,Birnin Kebbi.
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) Chairman Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs,His Eminence, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has urged Nigerians to stop castigating Nigeria’s Military in their efforts to restore peace in the country.
Sultan Abubakar who stated this during the 2025 NTRC General Assembly, held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, appealed to leaders in the country to regulate social media due to damages and negative contents their operators are publishing against the country and Individuals.
The theme of this year’s Assembly is “Strengthening Community Collaboration for Lasting Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria”.He said, there are some people making comments in the social media that the Military is collaborating with bandits.
They are claiming that the Military will leave a place before bandits will attack and kill people and later, Soldiers will go to the place. I don’t know why some callous statements will be made against our military.”This will demoralize our military. We shall continue to pray for our Military. We shall continue to support you, support you because we know the importance of the Military”
.Speaking on the social media misused, Sultan noted that there was urgent need to regulate the platform to safeguard against formulating fake and false alarms.According to him, there have been alot of negative comments in social media. “I think there is a need for us, honestly, to regulate social media because of the negative contents they are posting.
They will be sitting down at the comfort of their homes, formulating fake stories and it will go viral. And of course, people will believe it because we are in the era when people believed whatever they saw on social media.”You must verify your information before you publish it.
I was in London for a conference and on social media,they said bandits attacked a mosque in Sokoto and Sultan escaped through the window. Many people started calling me.”The most recent is the one where in the social media it was claimed that I said I warned Yoruba leaders not to toy with Igbo leaders about three days ago. I keep on wondering where I made such comments at what forum and Where? We were in Lagos and the programme was broadcast live on national television. I didn’t say anything like that”.
On the alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria, Sultan who condemned the fake allegation, explained that it was not possible that any killing would happen in Nigeria and traditional rulers would not known.”There is no way people would be killed and traditional rulers would not know.
This is a false alarm, we cannot allow it to go on like that. They have been saying this in USA, Canada and other Western countries that there was genocide of Christians in Nigeria. Where, when? These are false stories”, he said..
In his remark, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa who described the traditional rulers as the custodian of the people, disclosed that under his leadership, he would continue to collaborate with them.
He emphasised that traditional rulers are indeed the bedrock of governance and the first line of engagement between the government and the people.
Their wisdom, authority and moral standing serve as instruments for conflict resolution, mediation, and early warning against potential threats, saying for centuries, these institutions have preserved order and guided the people through transitions, upheavals, and reform.He said, as the country is faced by evolving security challenges ranging from insurgency and banditry to communal conflicts and youth restiveness, the collaboration between security agencies and traditional authorities has never been more crucial.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, under my leadership, recognizes and deeply values this partnership. “We have witnessed, time and again, how the timely intelligence, community engagement, and moral influence of our royal fathers have contributed to preventing crises and fostering peace.
Through your support, our troops have continued to sustain operations that restore normalcy and provide safety in affected communities.”Your Royal Highnesses, peace and security cannot be imposed but must be cultivated through trust, dialogue and cooperation at the grassroots.
This is why we continue to advocate a whole-of-society approach to security which is one that brings together traditional institutions, community leaders, youth and women groups, religious organizations and government agencies. “Together, we can counter the narratives of violence and disunity with messages of hope, tolerance and mutual respect.
As we deliberate during this Assembly, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to building a peaceful, prosperous, and united Northern Nigeria that stands as a pillar of stability and progress for the entire nation. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain steadfast in our constitutional duty to defend the territorial integrity of our nation and protect its citizens.
But our success depends greatly on the trust and collaboration of the communities we serve, which are the very communities you represent and nurture.”Let me once again salute the Northern Traditional Rulers Council for its visionary leadership, unity of purpose, and enduring dedication to the peace and development of our people.
May this Assembly yield new insights, stronger partnerships and renewed hope for lasting peace in Northern Nigeria and beyond”.
In his remark, the Minister of Budget and Economy Planning , Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, attributed the insurgents in the country to environmental challenges and stressed that the Federal Government would contribute to strengthen Local Government Areas, States and Federal Governments to overpower their challenges.
Declaring the meeting open, Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris explained that the state did not hire a foreign firm to fight insurgents in the state and his administration believed in the efforts of Nigeria’s laws by engaging Armed Forces in the fight against insecurity in the state.
