The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of an Igbo Muslim Army officer, Colonel Abdur-Razaq AbdulKarim Ode, urging the Federal Government and the Nigerian Armed Forces to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
The monarch made the appeal in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, by Prince Bashir Adefaka on behalf of the Sultan’s Media Team.
The Sultan, who also serves as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), described the incident as deeply troubling and called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting of the senior military intelligence officer at his residence in Abuja.
He also condemned what he described as persistent hate speech and hostility directed at minority Igbo Muslims in the South-East, warning that such actions undermine national unity and peaceful coexistence.
“As Muslims, we continue to act by showing love and encouraging peaceful coexistence, tolerance, unity and restraint as enjoined upon us by Islamic rules, regulations and guidance laid down for us in the Glorious Qur’an,” the Sultan said.
Describing the late Colonel Ode as a distinguished military intelligence officer, the Sultan said the deceased was widely respected by members of the Muslim community and traditional institutions, particularly in his home region.
He stressed that the government and military authorities must establish the full circumstances surrounding the officer’s death, including reports that he was allegedly shot at close range.
According to the Sultan, no Nigerian’s death should go without a comprehensive investigation, especially when the victim is a serving member of the nation’s armed forces.
He also called for an investigation into reports of an alleged attempt on the lives of members of the deceased officer’s family, insisting that all those responsible should be held accountable.
Beyond the killing, the Sultan urged Nigerians to reject hate speech and religious intolerance, calling for greater protection of minority Muslim and Christian communities across the country.
He warned that attacks and discriminatory actions against religious minorities threaten the country’s unity and efforts at nation-building.
The Sultan concluded by praying for Allah to forgive the late Colonel AbdulKarim Ode and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, while expressing hope that justice would prevail in the case.
