Tinubu Urges African Religious Leaders to Condemn Extremism and Violence

President Bola Tinubu has called on religious and spiritual leaders across Africa to take a firm stand against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and the exploitation of faith to incite violence. Speaking at the Grand Maulud of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tijani in Kano, the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, stressed the significant responsibility leaders hold in confronting extremism and the manipulation of faith for destructive ends.

Tinubu asserted that genuine service to God cannot be advanced through the destruction of innocent human life. He urged religious institutions to bolster their advocacy for peace education, religious literacy, scholarship, and the moral development of young people. Furthermore, he called on them to leverage their influence to promote justice, responsibility, compassion, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

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Your voices must be raised consistently against the murder of innocent people, against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and the misuse of religion to justify cruelty. Your institutions and networks must become stronger in the advocacy for peace education, religious literacy, scholarship and the formation of upright young men and women.

The President acknowledged the vital roles religious and traditional leaders play in fostering tolerance, combating misinformation, and strengthening grassroots peacebuilding. He highlighted that their voices are essential in speaking out against the murder of innocent people and reminding political leaders of their duties regarding justice and compassion, while also cautioning citizens against lawlessness.

Separately, the Nigerian Air Force announced that its Air Component of the Joint Task Force North-east, Operation Hadin Kai, successfully eliminated a prominent ISWAP Commander, Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, along with eight other extremist fighters during an air interdiction operation in Borno State. The President noted the timeliness of the gathering, given the global challenges of conflicts, uncertainty, climate and food shocks, extremism, and the manipulation of identity and religion.

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You must also remind political leaders of justice, responsibility and compassion, while reminding citizens that legitimate grievances must never become permission for lawlessness or violence. Above all, our spiritual fathers must continue to teach that no genuine service to Allah is advanced by destroying the innocent human life that Allah has made sacred.