Open letter to Nigerian Muslims, by Bukola Oyeniyi
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you), my dear brothers and sisters in Islam and fellow Nigerians. I write to you with a heavy heart after the horrifying attacks of December 25, 2025, in Sokoto – a city we revere as a bastion of Islam in Nigeria and West Africa.
We thank Allah for preserving the lives of our people and for preventing any lost innocent lives, however, our community is in fear and panic. Yet in this time, I urge you, in the name of Allah, not to view these attacks as part of a global crusade or a “Christian-mediated” war on Islam. Instead, let us reflect calmly on what has happened, our recent history of violence, and the true teachings of our faith.
Over the past two decades, our land has been plagued by violence and terrorism. We have seen Boko Haram and related extremist groups bring bloodshed to the northeast and beyond. Crucially, these terrorists do not represent Islam. In fact, they have targeted our own mosques and Muslim leaders. As one human rights report notes, Boko Haram “frequently attacks mosques and Muslim leaders who criticize the terrorist organization”.
Our beloved religious leaders have been murdered, our places of worship bombed. These crimes are committed against innocent people – Muslim and non-Muslim alike. We must ask: were the perpetrators of the last twenty years of carnage acting on our behalf or in the name of Islam? The Prophet explicitly forbade killing innocent people. One hadith reminds us it is forbidden to shed the blood of anyone not fighting – especially women and children. How then can we associate our faith with those who kill innocents?
Indeed, the record of these criminals is stark. Boko Haram’s violence killed tens of thousands of Nigerians and displaced millions. As a respected analysis reports, at the height of its insurgency Boko Haram killed at least 30,000 people, using suicide bombings and kidnappings against both Christian and Muslim communities, “attacking churches and mosques alike”. Think of the victims: Christians and Muslims living side by side, farmers and traders, our own brothers and sisters. Terrorism spared no one. The judgment is clear: these extremists were not defending Islam – they were dishonoring it and destroying our nation. Their ideology has nothing to do with the Islam the Prophet taught, which values justice, mercy and the sanctity of life.
So, what of the recent strikes in Sokoto on Christmas Day? Some have quickly claimed this was a new “war on Islam” – a plot against our faith. But let us look at the facts. Sokoto is over 90% Muslim, the homeland of many of us, and Islam’s caliphate cradle. The December 25 action was a coordinated counter-terrorism strike, carried out with the knowledge and agreement of Nigerian authorities. Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the operation was conducted within an international counterterrorism framework, fully respecting our sovereignty and the law. In fact, our own Foreign Minister emphasized that “it is a regional conflict, it is not a Nigeria Christian-Muslim conflict”. The strike hit Jabo in Sokoto State, while no terrorist activities are ongoing in the area, we also know for a fact that it was an area known to harbor bandits and terrorists.
Nigerian security forces provided the intelligence – the operation covered a precise area they identified. In other words, this was not an assault on Islam or Nigerians, but an effort to eliminate the jihadists who have kidnapped and terrorized our villagers. We should not mistake this for a crusade; it was a fight against Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, and other homegrown enemies.
Recently, some foreign politicians have spoken of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, and connected these strikes to defending Christians.
This rhetoric is misleading and dangerous. As one news analysis observed, the violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria have mainly occurred in a different region (the Middle Belt), not in Sokoto’s northwest. Claims of genocide have been used to justify foreign military action, but the reality is more complex. The region where many Christian farmers have been killed by armed herders is far from Sokoto. Meanwhile, the US strikes we discuss took place in a predominantly Muslim area – Jabo in Sokoto – where Muslim communities have themselves suffered greatly. Jabo, in fact, is “a largely Muslim town” whose people have been targeted by bandits and kidnappers in the past. This should remind us not to draw false sectarian conclusions.
A respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned us about this very issue. He cautioned that portraying the US intervention as simply “protecting Christians” could “inflame religious tensions”. While many might find the Sheikh’s utterances and posturing unsettling at times, Gumi however understands our society: Nigeria is multi-ethnic and multi-faith, and we will be played against each other if we buy into such narratives. Instead, he urges that the real task is to rid Nigeria of terrorists – whoever they are – and to do so with “clean and holy hands,” meaning our own forces if possible. Let us heed his advice: do not let emotions drive us into believing conspiracy theories or blaming other faiths for these terrorist acts.
Brothers and sisters, our duty now is to apply maturity, reason, and the better angels of our nature. Our religion teaches compassion and wisdom even in crises. Islam forbids indiscriminate revenge. Remember the Prophet’s example and hadiths: he said explicitly that we must never kill those who do not fight us, especially women and children. When a Muslim kills an innocent, it is as if he killed all of humanity; when one saves a life, it is as if saving all humanity (Quran 5:32 principle).
We must not abandon these principles. Instead of rage, let us turn to prayer and reflection. Instead of rushing to arm ourselves, let us support our families and communities with patience and faith.
The bigger picture beckons us: we want a Nigeria where every child can grow up unafraid, where the talents of our people – north and south, Muslim and Christian, Hausa and Igbo and Yoruba and more – are cherished. That Nigeria must be built on unity and respect, not on religious strife. Do not heed those who call for a new jihad in Nigeria or beyond.
The jihad that matters is against injustice and poverty, not against fellow Nigerians. Reject any calls from extremist preachers to take up arms in the name of religion. These calls are neither from Islam nor from patriots – they are from desperate men who want to continue their violent ways. True Islam lifts people up; it does not drag our nation deeper into chaos.
In the coming days, channels of misinformation will be full.
I implore you: seek truth from reliable sources and your own leadership. Remember that our government affirmed the strikes were part of a cooperative security effort, not a sectarian crusade. Our President and Vice-President are Muslims and if other Nigerians can vote them into office without let or hindrance, it behooves all of us to have faith in them.
Have faith in our security forces working to protect us all. Support the victims’ families with charity and compassion, but do not allow anger to cloud your judgment. The blood of innocents – Muslim and Christian – cries out for justice, which will come through law and order, not through mob violence.
My beloved brothers and sisters, let us stand strong in our faith and in our love for Nigeria.
Let us prove that the Muslim ummah in Nigeria will not be divided by extremists or foreign narratives. Let us embody the true Islam of peace, mercy, and justice. Join hands with your Christian neighbors and fellow citizens in condemning these killings. Together, insist that Nigeria prosecute the real criminals within our borders, no matter who they are, and leave conspiracies aside. Our future is safer when we are united.
May Allah grant us wisdom and patience. Let us pray for the souls of those lost in the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism of these past twenty years and for all victims of terror in our land. May He soften the hearts of the misguided and guide us on the path of righteousness. For the sake of Allah, Islam, our families, and our beloved Nigeria, let us rise above this tragedy with unity and resolve.
Sincerely,
Bukola Adeyemi, Oyeniyi
