NSCIA Supports State Police, Denies Christian Genocide Claims

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has endorsed the establishment of state police as part of a broader reform of Nigeria’s security architecture. This position was articulated in a communiqué following the NSCIA General Assembly on October 1, 2026, at the Abuja National Mosque, signed by Sultan Abubakar and Secretary-General Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

The council advocates for decentralized policing to improve Nigeria's response to insecurity, contingent on professionalism, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights. NSCIA also firmly rejected claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, asserting that insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of religion and warning that framing the crisis as religious could exacerbate tensions.

The council called for effective coordination between federal and state security institutions and urged Muslims to avoid the manipulation of Islam for violence. Additionally, NSCIA criticized several universities for their opposition to Supreme Court rulings affirming Muslim female students' rights to wear hijab.