The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, says people should not be forced to embrace Islam. He makes the statement publicly and urges Muslims to respect the rights and freedoms of those who follow other faiths.
Both outlets present the comments as a call for religious tolerance amid wider national challenges. Vanguard and Information Nigeria describe the remarks in similar terms, focusing on non-compulsion in matters of faith and on respecting interfaith coexistence. The reporting does not attribute any new policy action to the NSCIA or specify particular incidents, but frames the message as a response to concerns about the social climate in the country.
The Sultan’s position is conveyed as a general principle—prohibiting coercion in religious choice—paired with an expectation that Muslims uphold the liberties of others. The sources do not differ significantly on the core content of what is said, though they vary slightly in wording and the context they provide.
