The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that Fulani are not terrorists.
He said this in Abuja yesterday when a courtesy visit to the management and staff of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
“I have earlier stood on this; we are not terrorists and criminals. Of course, we have some bandits amongst us and it does not make a clan or the whole Muslims as criminals or bandits.
“I am a proud Fulani and if I were to come back in this world again after I am gone, which definitely I wound not, I will ask Allah to bring me back as a Fulani man. I am a proud Fulani man but I am not a criminal, bandit or terrorist,” he said.
The sultan expressed optimism that the 2021 hajj would hold with the COVID-19 vaccines, urging Muslims not to contravene government protocols on the virus.
He noted that series of meetings were ongoing between Muslim scholars and the government on the assurance of the vaccines to convince Muslims on its safety.
Earlier, Chairman, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said the board was charting a way to free the government from the financial burden of the commission through partnerships with the private sector.
He said the Hajj Savings Scheme was intended to bring down costs of Hajj services for intending pilgrims and enable the poorest among Muslims to afford it.