The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called for the immediate launch of a full investigation into the alleged assassination of Army Colonel Abdur-Razaq AbdulKarim Ode, described as Nigeria’s most senior Igbo Muslim army officer.
The monarch also condemned what he described as growing hate speech and hostility against minority Igbo Muslims in the South East, warning that such actions undermine national unity and peaceful coexistence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Sultan’s Media Team, the Sultan said the reported incident, which allegedly occurred at the officer’s residence in Abuja, was a disturbing development that should not be ignored.
The Sultan, who is also Co-President of Religions for Peace, headquartered in New York, said Muslims must continue to promote peace, tolerance, unity and restraint in line with the teachings of the Qur’an.
He urged the Federal Government and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting of Colonel Ode, whom he described as a respected military intelligence officer admired by both the Muslim community and traditional institutions, particularly in the South East where he hailed from.
“To allow the killing of any single Nigerian soul without getting to the root of the cause and bringing the culprits to justice is not a good way to talk about a serious country,” the Sultan said.
He stressed that the alleged killing of a serving officer of the Nigerian Army and the reported attempt on the lives of members of his family required urgent attention from the authorities.
“The cause of this killing and the attempt on the life of his family must be found out, and the government and other appropriate quarters should do the needful,” he added.
The Sultan further called for an end to hate campaigns and attacks against minority Muslims and Christians in any part of the country, saying every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic or religious background, deserves protection and equal treatment under the law.
He prayed for the repose of the late Colonel Abdur-Razaq AbdulKarim Ode and asked Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus.
