He made the clarification during a dialogue session organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja on Wednesday, a gathering that brought together prominent religious leaders, government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss issues surrounding peaceful coexistence, interfaith tolerance, and strategies for addressing insecurity without worsening religious tensions.
During the meeting, the Sultan addressed long-standing fears and narratives circulating in some parts of the country, particularly claims that there are hidden plans aimed at religious domination or the Islamisation of Nigeria.
He strongly rejected these assertions, describing them as baseless and capable of creating unnecessary suspicion among citizens.
According to him, such narratives only serve to deepen divisions between religious communities and weaken the spirit of unity that is essential for national stability.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s strength lies in its religious diversity, and that no group has the intention or capacity to eliminate another.
The Sultan explained that Nigerians, regardless of religious affiliation, are bound to coexist peacefully, and that sustaining harmony requires mutual respect and understanding among all faith groups.
He further stressed that acts of violence or criminality should never be attributed to any religion, warning against the growing tendency to label insecurity issues as religious conflicts.
He noted that individuals who engage in violence do so based on personal choices, extremist indoctrination, or criminal intent, and not as representatives of any faith.
According to him, associating crimes with religion only fuels mistrust and deepens existing societal divisions, making it more difficult to achieve peace and national cohesion.
The Sultan also reaffirmed that both Christianity and Islam are fundamentally rooted in messages of peace, compassion, and respect for human life.
He said neither religion supports violence against innocent people, and any interpretation that suggests otherwise is a distortion of their core teachings.
He warned against extremist ideologies that manipulate religious beliefs to justify acts of violence, particularly those that promote suicide attacks or killings in the name of faith. He described such interpretations as dangerous, misleading, and completely contrary to authentic religious teachings.
In his remarks, he strongly condemned individuals who carry out violent acts while invoking religious slogans, saying such actions reflect a misunderstanding of faith and contribute directly to insecurity, loss of lives, and instability in society.
The Sultan also cautioned that those who believe they are serving God by killing innocent people are gravely mistaken and have deviated from true religious principles. In a pointed statement, he said:
“You build yourself up, go somewhere, blow yourself up and say ‘Allahu Akbar!’ Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. Don’t think you are going to heaven. You are going to hell for taking the lives of innocent people.”
His comments were widely interpreted as a strong message against extremism and an appeal for religious leaders and citizens alike to reject violence, promote tolerance, and work collectively toward sustaining peace and unity across Nigeria’s diverse religious landscape.
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