NAF air strike kills ISWAP commander, 8 other extremists in Borno Military donates educational materials to schools Olawale Ajimotokan and Linus Aleke in Abuja President Bola Tinubu yesterday appealed to religious and spiritual leaders across Africa to speak against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and the misuse of religion to justify violence and cruelty. He made the charge yesterday in Kano in his goodwill message at the Grand Maulud of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tijani. Also, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday revealed that the Air Component of the Joint Task Force North-east, Operation Hadin Kai, eliminated a key ISWAP Commander, Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, and eight other extremist fighters during a coordinated air interdiction operation in Borno State. The President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume in his address at the World Khalifa of the Tijjaniyya Order, said religious leaders have an important responsibility in confronting violence, extremism and the manipulation of faith for destructive purposes. He stated that no genuine service to God can be advanced through the destruction of innocent human life. Tinubu urged religious institutions and networks to strengthen their advocacy for peace education, religious literacy, scholarship and the moral formation of young people, while using their influence to promote justice, responsibility, compassion and peaceful resolution of grievances. He said the federal government recognised the critical roles of religious and traditional leaders in deepening tolerance, countering misinformation and identity-based division, strengthening grassroots peacebuilding and promoting peaceful coexistence. Tinubu said: “Your voices must be raised consistently against the murder of innocent people, against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and the misuse of religion to justify cruelty. Your institutions and networks must become stronger in the advocacy for peace education, religious literacy, scholarship and the formation of upright young men and women. “You must also remind political leaders of justice, responsibility and compassion, while reminding citizens that legitimate grievances must never become permission for lawlessness or violence. Above all, our spiritual fathers must continue to teach that no genuine service to Allah is advanced by destroying the innocent human life that Allah has made sacred”. He described the gathering as timely, noting it was held at a time when societies across the world were confronted by conflicts, uncertainty, climate shocks, food and energy shocks, violent extremism, terrorism, transnational crimes and increasingly dangerous manipulation of identity and religion. The President, who referenced a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees report that 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide at the end of 2025, said that the scale of global challenges makes the intervention of spiritual leaders increasingly indispensable. He emphasised that the Tijjaniyya community, with its extensive spiritual networks across West Africa, North Africa and beyond, possessed relationships and moral capital that could be deployed for reconciliation, countering violent extremism, youth guidance and humanitarian solidarity across the Sahel, West Africa and the wider world. Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation, counter-terrorism, maritime security, economic integration and dialogue, noting that the country’s strategic location at the intersection of West Africa, the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, Gulf of Guinea and the wider Atlantic world makes its peace and stability consequential to the wider region. “Our position means that peace in Nigeria has consequences far beyond Nigeria. It also means that religious communities with deep transnational connections, such as the Tijjaniyya, can be valuable partners in building an architecture of social peace that complements the work of governments and regional institutions,” Tinubu said. He asserted that such partnership should mobilise the ethical resources of religion, including truthfulness, compassion, justice, restraint, service and the sanctity of human life, for the common good. Tinubu assured that the federal government would continue to uphold the freedom of Nigerians to practise their faith while strengthening collaboration with religious and traditional institutions to promote peace, mutual respect and national cohesion. The World Khalifa of the Tijjaniyya Order had in attendance scholars, spiritual leaders and other guests who travelled from Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and other countries for the Maulud. Tinubu described Nigeria as a country where the Tijjaniyya tradition has established deep roots in scho
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