His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared that traditional rulers are more distressed about Nigeria’s worsening security situation than political office holders, stating emphatically that “enough is enough” regarding the continuous killings across the country.
The Sultan made this declaration while addressing the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Maiduguri on Tuesday, where over 86 first-class monarchs gathered to discuss the region’s security challenges behind closed doors.
“We have issued countless condemnations, but how many times must we keep condemning these killings before our political leaders and security agencies take decisive action?” the visibly disturbed Sultan questioned. He emphasized that traditional rulers would now speak with one unified voice to demand concrete solutions rather than mere rhetoric.
While expressing optimism that the insecurity could be resolved through collective efforts, the Sultan stressed the need for sincerity among political leaders, traditional institutions, and citizens. “We are not competing with governors; we exist to support them in ensuring peace and stability,” he clarified.
The meeting, themed “Enhanced Security As Panacea For Stability and Development of the North,” saw stark revelations about the security situation. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum raised fresh alarms about terrorists regaining footholds in several communities, corroborating earlier reports that three local governments remain under Boko Haram control.
Governor Zulum, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, proposed youth empowerment as a critical solution: “Our large population of unemployed youths creates a dangerous vacuum that extremists exploit. We must invest massively in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship to make them productive citizens.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by AIG Kenechikwu Onwuemelie, advocated for a “whole-of-society” approach, pledging the police force’s commitment to collaborate with traditional institutions.
The Sultan’s address came against a grim backdrop of recent attacks, including:
- April 14: 40 killed in Plateau’s Zike community
- April 12: 8 dead in Borno highway IED explosion
- April 8: 6 killed, 59 abducted in Katsina
- March 25: Military bases attacked in Wajirko and Wulgo
This marks the traditional rulers’ second major intervention since their December 2020 visit when they urged military action against terrorist strongholds in Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest.
As the meeting concluded, the Sultan cautioned against ethnic profiling of criminals, noting that every community has both good and bad elements. The monarchs resolved to present unified recommendations to political authorities, determined to see tangible improvements in the security situation that has claimed thousands of lives across the north.
