The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Nigerian Army to resist the influence of tribalism, warning that such divisions could weaken both the military and the nation.

He made this appeal during the inauguration of the newly constructed Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Headquarters complex in Bauchi on Wednesday.

Abubakar stated, “In the military, there has been increasing focus on ethnic and religious identities—whether someone is Muslim or Christian, Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba. These distinctions were not significant many years ago. Please do not let these divisions infiltrate the army, as they could fracture both the military and the country.”

The Sultan also advised citizens to refrain from criticizing military personnel involved in operations aimed at restoring peace nationwide. He added, “Nigerians need to support and pray for the military because without security, we cannot sleep, work, or attend worship centers safely.”