Bandits are pure terrorists, Sultan of Sokoto declares

..We must not allow them destabilize Nigeria

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, Tuesday, urged Nigerians to call a spade a spade by appropriately calling bandits their right name which, he said,is simply terrorists. 

The Sultan, who spoke when he received the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Faruk Yahaya in his palace insisted that using the term banditry is an indication of being soft on the criminal elements. 

“Calling these criminals bandits is being soft on them. They are not bandits rather terrorists. And I believe the more we call them by their right name the better for all of us.” 

The respected leader, while warning that  terrorism has take a new turn in Nigeria, added that,  “we all generally  know how bad things are now.” 

The Sultan said that though he had retired from the Nigerian Army, he was not tired of offering meaningful advise, adding that their traditional responsibility has placed them in the vantage position to offer meaningful advise to all. 

“We are retired from the Army but not tired because we are in a very more serious position now to talk to everybody.

“We will never get tired of receiving you and other senior officers of the country, because the more we see you, the more people believe and have confidence that something good is happening to the country.”

While noting that they are prayer warriors, the Sultan said, “We don’t carry gun, but we use our Quaran to pray for peace and stability in our country.

“And we will continue to pray for you and Almighty Allah will hear our cries. We will never allow terrorists to have their way in Nigeria. The way of the terrorist is to destabilize your normal way of life.” 

Giving advise to the Nigerian security chiefs to always ensure adequate care and support to families of officers who died in the line of service, the Sultan affirmed that doing so will help boost the confidence of those in service. 

The Sultan who assured that they will continue to give the Nigerian security agencies all the very best advise, affirmed that “the security agencies in Nigeria are doing their best. But they need to be encouraged.

“For me, if all the soldiers in the Nigerian Army belong to the armoured I would have been happier.”

By way of encouragement to the COAS, the Sultan said, “We are not tired by the happenings. We pray that your tenure will mark a turning point in bringing to an end the numerous security challenges across the country.”

 Speaking earlier, the COAS said he was in the Palace to pay Sallah homage despite being on an
operational visit to the North West zone of the country.

To the Sultan, he said, “I can only continue to thank your Eminence for your support and guidance and solicit for your continued support. I want to publicly acknowledge your guidance on how we can always improve on our activities. 

“You have always been there for me in all my career. I also want to appreciate your efforts in improving security across Nigeria and the globe.” 

Giving reasons for his visit to Sokoto, the COAS said, they are going to the Eastern senatorial axis of the state for the ground breaking ceremony of an operational base barrack which the land and it’s documents were given to the Nigerian Army by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal within one week after they requested for it. 

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