The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has voiced his frustration over the unrelenting insecurity plaguing Nigeria.
He asserts that traditional leaders are more emotionally invested in ending the violence than most politicians.
Speaking during a high-level gathering of Northern traditional rulers in Maiduguri, the Sultan said the forum served as an avenue to address the disturbing trend of killings and growing instability in the region and across the country.
“We have released statement after statement condemning these senseless murders, yet little has changed. How long must we cry out before those in power take meaningful action?” he asked.
He emphasized that traditional rulers, unlike political officeholders, do not seek power but rather aim to support state governments in stabilizing their domains.
With reports of Boko Haram’s resurgence in Borno and hundreds recently slaughtered in places like Plateau, the Sultan said the situation has reached a breaking point. He called for coordinated efforts to find sustainable solutions.
He reassured the public of their commitment to peace, noting that while insecurity is not unique to Nigeria, it remains a severe problem requiring local, intentional responses.
Importantly, he warned against assigning blame to any ethnic or religious group, stressing the need for tolerance and collective responsibility in the face of shared national pain.