Sultan of Sokoto wants Muslims to embark on prayers to end insecurity in the region

The Sultan of Sokoto-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam has called on the Muslim community to embark on special prayers to end the current spate of insecurity in the North West.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, is the President General of JNI and spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims.

The Sultan, through the JNI, asked Muslims across the country to pray for the restoration of peace in the land.

The call was contained in a statement by the JNI’s Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, in Kaduna on Sunday.

The statement read in part, “The Sultan further calls on all Imams, Majaalisa (knowledge seeking gatherings, study circles),Islamic schools as well as the leadership of all Muslim organisations/societies in Nigeria to commence special prayers in calamitous situations and trying times (Qunootun-Nawazil), and seek Allah’s compassion for Nigeria and the North in particular.

“Muslims are as well urged to be introspective and should embrace more Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), through glorification of Allah, Istighfar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness) and ceaseless Du’a (prayers and invocations), for ease and relief in these trying moments.

“The Muslim Ummah(community) is also called upon to intensify ‘Adhkar’ (calling on Allah with the tongue), especially the prescribed morning and evening ones.

Over the weekend, President Muhammadu Buhari, dispatched a delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services, to Sokoto and Katsina states in response to the recent spike in activities of bandits.

The development came on the heels of the President inaugurating Navy ships, patrol boats, and a helicopter at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island in Lagos to boost security at the maritime borders.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘President Buhari Sends Security, Intelligence Heads To Sokoto, Katsina.’

According to Shehu, “The President is expecting an immediate situation report and recommendations on actions to follow to effectively deal with the worrying situation.”

The delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd) is made up of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo.

Buhari had earlier ordered a manhunt of those behind the gruesome murder of the Katsina State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Dr. Rabe Nasir. He was killed on Wednesday in his house located at Fatima Shema Quarters, Katsina.

This followed an attack by bandits on travellers from Sokoto to Kaduna State, leading to the death of 23 persons.