A civil society organisation, ETTRAH – Voice for Freedom and Human Rights, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS)...
A civil society organisation, ETTRAH – Voice for Freedom and Human Rights, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, calling for urgent intervention over alleged incitement to violence against members of the Shia community in Sokoto State.
In the petition dated March 3, 2026, and addressed to the Director-General of the DSS and the Inspector-General of Police, the group raised concerns over a sermon reportedly delivered on March 13, 2026, by an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Nura Nata’ala Husare.
The organisation alleged that the cleric’s remarks could incite residents to confront members of the Shia community and obstruct their religious activities, warning that such rhetoric, if unchecked, may escalate sectarian tensions and threaten public peace.
ETTRAH, which said it submitted the petition on behalf of members of the Shia community in Sokoto State, stressed that the development poses risks to religious freedom, constitutional rights, and national security.
The petition was also copied to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Sokoto State Government, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Arewa Consultative Forum.
Citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the group noted that Sections 38, 40, and 42 guarantee freedom of religion, peaceful assembly, and protection against discrimination, respectively. It also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The group further recalled a previous violent incident in Sokoto during the administration of former Governor Aliyu Wamakko, in which over 30 persons were reportedly killed, with properties destroyed and many residents displaced. It added that courts later discharged those accused and reportedly ordered compensation for victims, which it alleged has yet to be implemented.
According to the petition, recent comments attributed to the cleric questioned the presence of Shia activities in Sokoto and allegedly urged residents to organise and monitor their neighbourhoods to prevent such processions.
ETTRAH warned that such statements could embolden individuals to take unlawful actions against others exercising their constitutional rights.
The organisation said members of the Shia community insist their activities are peaceful but expressed fears over their safety amid rising tensions and past experiences of violence.
The group called on security agencies to investigate the alleged statements, deploy adequate security to protect affected communities, and prevent any breakdown of law and order.
It also urged the Federal Government to ensure the protection of constitutional rights, while calling on the National Assembly to conduct oversight on sectarian tensions in the state.
Additionally, ETTRAH demanded enforcement of previous court judgments, particularly regarding compensation for victims of past incidents.
The organisation emphasised that failure to address the situation promptly could undermine national unity and the rule of law, urging authorities to act decisively to forestall any potential crisis.
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