Leading Islamic scholars and northern political figures have warned that Nigeria could face worsening instability unless urgent steps are taken to tackle insecurity and the misuse of social media, which they say is fueling division and unrest.
At a summit of northern Ulamas in Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, urged Muslim leaders to unite and promote peace amid rising violence across the country.
“This is the time to unite the Muslim Ummah,” the Sultan said. “Our clerics must preach peace, tolerance, and national unity in line with Islamic teachings. Social media must also be regulated because it is increasingly being used to spread division and hatred.”
House of Representatives Leader Alhassan Doguwa said religious and political leaders must collaborate more closely to address insecurity and governance challenges. “Security is everyone’s business,” he said. “We in the National Assembly will support any initiative that unites our people and upholds Islamic values.”
Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, representing Zamfara West, cautioned against blaming the government alone for the security crisis, saying it began in Muslim-dominated communities before spreading nationwide.
“Insecurity started in our own areas. We can’t blame the government alone,” Yari said. “The solution lies in unity, action, and honest dialogue. We must face economic realities instead of living in denial.”
On social media abuse, Yari said misinformation and hate speech were worsening tensions. “Social media doesn’t spare anyone — rich or poor. It’s time to regulate it and use it responsibly, as other nations do,” he said.
Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi said dialogue between Islamic sects was crucial to tackling poverty and banditry, which he claimed were being exploited by “external forces” seeking to profit from Nigeria’s instability.
“Banditry is being fuelled by outsiders who covet our mineral wealth,” Gumi warned. “They use uneducated herders as pawns in a larger game. We must talk among ourselves and end it internally.”
Gumi also called for reforms to Nigeria’s defamation and social media laws to prevent abuse while safeguarding free speech.
The summit ended with a joint resolution to promote inter-sect cooperation, peaceful dialogue, and stronger religious leadership to counter insecurity, disunity, and economic hardship across northern Nigeria.