By Professor Ishaq Akintola
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‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), to stop the killings in Sokoto or resign from his post. The group hinged the call on the minister’s vow to end killings on assumption of office, a promise he has not been able to keep.

‎The call was contained in a press statement issued on Saturday, 22nd August, 2026 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
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‎”Killings and kidnappings around Nigeria has continued unabated. The level of insecurity has risen to all time high. But these terrorist activities have been concentrated on Sokoto State in particular in the past two years.
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“For brevity, we will mention only the 43 people and an Imam who were killed in Sokoto in the past three weeks. 19 others were abducted in the same state around the same time. It is needless to mention the fact that all the victims were Muslims.
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‎”These incessant attacks on Sokoto State have far-reaching effect on both the Nigerian security architecture as well as the Nigerian populace.
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‎”In the first place it underlines the weakness of our military and its failure to secure the citizenry. Secondly, killings and abductions in Sokoto or any type of attack that happens in the state symptomises aggression on the seat of the Nigerian caliphate.
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‎”If Abuja is Nigeria’s political capital, if Lagos is the country’s economic hub, then Sokoto is the heart of Islamdom in Nigeria.
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“Let it be known far and wide that any attack on Sokoto is deemed by Nigerian Muslims as an attack on Muslims in general. This is a factor the military must bear in mind.
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‎”We therefore hold the Nigerian Army responsible for the security lapses in and around Sokoto. We expect nothing less than iron-clad defense mechanism in that axis.
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‎”To this end, we remind the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), of his vow on resumption of office as minister. He promised to stop killings.
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‎”Nay and more than that. In his own words, he vowed not to fail himself and the Nigerian Nation: ‘…I knew that I could not afford to fail myself, fail my nation, fail my family…’
‎”But today Sokoto is under siege. Farmers cannot go to their farms. Villagers seek safe haven in distant lands. City dwellers sleep with one eye open. Travellers have become human merchandise, abducted, humiliated, dehumanised and turned to meer goods whose price must be haggled with criminals.
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‎”The Defense Minister has reneged on his pledge to stop killings. He has failed the people of Sokoto. He has failed Nigerians.
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“Just yesterday, the Department of State Services (DSS) warned that terrorists were planning to attack tertiary institutions in Sokoto State.
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‎”This is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. We cannot take any more. The Defense Minister cannot eat his cake and have it. He cannot stand akimbo while the seat of the caliphate is burning and still keep his ministry.
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‎”We therefore give the Minister of Defense 14 days starting from Monday, 24th August 2026 to make vissible, tangible and reliable changes in the security paraphernalia in and around Sokoto such that the state will become impregnable and unassailable. The city of Sokoto must be swept clean. In particular, no single ant must climb on the Sultan’s skin.
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“The alternative is for the minister to submit his letter of resignation on or before the ultimatum. There is no other option on the table”.
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‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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