WorldStage– Former Sokoto State Governor and ex-Senate President, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said that terrorists and bandits operating across Nigeria do not represent any religion, describing them instead as common criminals who prey on citizens without discrimination.
Speaking in Sokoto on Saturday, Tambuwal cautioned political actors, commentators, and the international community against framing Nigeria’s security challenges along religious or sectarian lines, warning that such narratives distort reality and deepen divisions without addressing the root causes of violence.
According to him, insecurity in Nigeria affects people of all faiths, ethnicities, and regions, noting that bandits and terrorists attack Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers alike. “These criminals have no religion. They kill, kidnap, and destroy lives and livelihoods wherever they find victims,” he said.
Tambuwal also criticised the recent designation of Nigeria by the United States as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), arguing that the label misrepresents the nature of Nigeria’s security crisis. He maintained that while the country faces serious security challenges, portraying them primarily as religious persecution issues oversimplifies a complex problem driven by criminality, governance gaps, and socio-economic pressures.
He referenced the position of the Vatican, which has previously stated that Nigerians, regardless of faith, are victims of widespread insecurity, not participants in a religious conflict. Tambuwal said this assessment more accurately reflects realities on the ground.
The former governor urged the international community to move beyond stigmatizing labels and instead provide constructive support to Nigeria, particularly under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the country works to strengthen security institutions and restore peace.
“Insecurity should not be politicised, domestically or internationally,” Tambuwal said. “What Nigeria needs is collective action, internal unity, and genuine international cooperation to confront criminal networks that threaten us all.”
His remarks come amid renewed debates over security, terrorism, and international perceptions of Nigeria’s internal conflicts, as the federal government intensifies efforts to curb banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping across multiple regions of the country.
