NEWS
Sultan of Sokoto Demands Probe Into Killing of Army Colonel, Abdussalam Ude, Condemns Alleged Persecution of Igbo Muslims
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the killing of an Army officer, identified as Col. Abdussalam Ude, describing the incident as one that must not be ignored.
The revered traditional ruler also condemned what he described as persistent hate and discrimination against minority Igbo Muslims in the South-East, urging an end to attacks on religious minorities across the country in the interest of national unity and peaceful coexistence.
The Sultan’s position was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Sultan’s Media Team.
Expressing concern over the reported circumstances surrounding the officer’s death, the Sultan described the alleged hostility towards minority Igbo Muslims in the South-East as a setback to national cohesion and called on the Federal Government and the Armed Forces to uncover the truth behind the killing.
According to the statement titled, “Sultan of Sokoto calls for immediate launch of investigation on alleged assassination of Igbo Muslim Army officer,” Alhaji Abubakar made the call “while reacting to the recent assassination, allegedly, of Nigeria’s most senior Igbo Muslim Army officer, which occurred at his residence in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, recently.”
The Sultan said, “The Federal Government and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have gotten to put heads together and get to the roots of circumstances that led to the shooting at alleged close range of Army Colonel Abdur-Razaq AbdlKarim Ode, a fine military intelligence officer that both Muslim Ummah and traditional communities in the country, especially the region he hailed from, were proud of.”
He stressed that allowing the killing of any Nigerian, particularly a serving military officer, to go without a thorough investigation would weaken confidence in the country’s justice system and undermine efforts aimed at nation-building.
“To allow the killing of any single Nigerian soul taken out without getting to the root of the cause and bringing the culprits to justice with a view to disallowing a repeat of the same is not a good way to talk about a serious country, much more when the life extrajudicially taken is that of a soldier of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The cause of this killing and attempt on the life of his family must be found out and the government and other appropriate quarters do the needful,” he said.
Beyond the call for justice, the Sultan also appealed for greater religious tolerance and mutual respect across Nigeria, urging citizens to reject hate speech and all forms of discrimination against minority religious groups.
Reaffirming Islam’s teachings on peace and harmony, he said, “As Muslims, we continue to act by showing love and encouraging peaceful coexistence, tolerance, unity and restraint as enjoined upon us by Islamic rules, regulations and guidance laid down for us in the Glorious Qur’an.”
The Sultan concluded by praying for the repose of the deceased officer’s soul, asking Allah to grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus, while expressing hope that justice would be served and that such tragic incidents would not be allowed to recur.