A civic group, One Nation One Law, has called on the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, to issue a strong religious declaration condemning terrorism as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s lingering insurgency.
In a statement signed by its President, Benson Sunday, the group said the country’s counter-terrorism strategy must move beyond military operations to include decisive ideological engagement, noting that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to carry out attacks despite years of security interventions.
The group described the persistence of attacks, including those carried out during major religious periods, as a sign that the current approach is inadequate.
According to the statement, terrorism in the country is driven not only by armed fighters but also by extremist ideologies that aid recruitment and attempt to justify violence.
“The war cannot be won by bullets alone. It is a battle of ideas as much as it is a battle of force,” the group said, stressing the need to confront and dismantle radical narratives.
It urged the Sultan, as a leading Islamic authority, to issue a clear and widely communicated fatwa denouncing terrorism, arguing that such a move would help counter misinterpretations of religion and weaken the ideological base of insurgent groups.
The group warned that silence or lack of clarity from influential religious leaders could embolden extremist elements, stating that “ambiguity empowers extremism.”
Reaffirming its position on national unity, the group also called for a unified legal system across the country, insisting that multiple legal frameworks weaken governance and hinder effective justice delivery.
It further expressed concern over what it described as mixed signals in the anti-terror war, particularly suggestions of possible leniency or pardon for suspects, warning that such narratives could undermine accountability.
While commending the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sacrifices, the group maintained that military efforts alone would not end terrorism if the underlying ideologies are not addressed.
The group also highlighted the humanitarian toll of the insurgency, including widespread displacement, loss of lives and destruction of communities, and called for urgent, comprehensive action to end the crisis.
