Suicide bombers shouting Allahu Akbar heading to hell’ – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has said that individuals who kill innocent people in the name of Islam, including suicide bombers shouting “Allahu Akbar”, are destined for hell.

The monarch made this assertion on Wednesday in Abuja at the first 2026 triennial meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, where he warned against the growing tendency to link criminality with religion.

In a strongly worded speech, the Sultan said that no act of violence carried out under the guise of religion will earn divine reward, stressing that perpetrators will face eternal consequences.

“Someone can go to the market, blow themselves up, kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar’. Yes, God is great, but you will go to hell. They will suffer for taking innocent lives,” he said.

He added that it is misleading to label crimes as religiously motivated, insisting that perpetrators should simply be identified as criminals.

“Let’s get the narrative right; it’s not about religion. Let’s stop bringing religion into it. Let’s call them what they are: criminals. Not Muslim criminals, not Muslim terrorists, not Muslim bandits,” he said.

The Sultan also rejected suggestions of any agenda by Muslims to eliminate Christians in Nigeria, describing such claims as unfounded and dangerous.

“Muslims are in no hurry and are not planning anything like decimating the Christian population in Nigeria. We are in no position to remove Christians from Nigeria. It is not possible,” he said.

He stressed the need for peaceful coexistence, urging Nigerians to embrace mutual respect, understanding and trust across religious boundaries.

Highlighting the role of ignorance in fueling extremism, the Sultan warned against false claims by religious authority, stressing that mastery of the Arabic language does not equate to solid Islamic knowledge.

“Just because you understand Arabic doesn’t make you a sheikh. Arabic is just a language. So literacy is very important,” he said.

He also advocated sustained dialogue as the only viable way to resolve inter-religious tensions.

“NIREC we believe in dialogue. No matter how bad things are, we believe in dialogue. When we talk, we need to understand each other, not just tolerate,” he added.

Also speaking was the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Msgr. Daniel Okoh, stressed the importance of religious literacy in promoting national unity.

“Religious literacy is not simply the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals. It is the cultivation of awareness, sensitivity and respect for the beliefs and practices of others,” Okoh said.

He noted that many conflicts in the country were often wrongly framed along religious lines, even when their root causes were social, economic or political.

“In various parts of our nation, we continue to see tensions that are sometimes framed on religious grounds, even when their root causes may be social, economic or political,” he added.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, also highlighted the link between knowledge and national stability, warning that ignorance breeds suspicion and conflict.

“Where there is ignorance, suspicion can take root. Where there is misunderstanding, conflicts can arise. But where there is knowledge and empathy, trust can flourish,” Akume said.

He called for greater investment in education and urged institutions to promote inclusive and accurate teaching about religions.

“Schools, universities and community institutions must prioritize inclusive and accurate teaching about religions and worldviews. We must resist narratives that seek to divide us,” he said.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from religious and government leaders to deepen dialogue, promote trust and address insecurity without resorting to divisive religious narratives.

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