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President Bola Tinubu has urged religious and spiritual leaders to speak out against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and the misuse of religion to justify violence.

The president gave the advice on Sunday in Kano at the Grand Maulud of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tijani.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, President Tinubu noted that religious leaders had a crucial role to play in confronting violence, extremism and the manipulation of faith for destructive purposes.

He charged religious institutions and networks to strengthen advocacy for peace education, religious literacy, scholarship and the moral development of young people.

The president added that religious leaders should also use their influence to promote justice, responsibility, compassion and the peaceful resolution of grievances.

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Ibn Mohammed bin Shakau, the biological son of the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has reportedly emerged within the ranks of the Boko Haram insurgent group

A counter-terrorism expert, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a post on X.

Makama noted that the development has raised fresh concerns over the possible continuation of the ideology and networks associated with his father, Shekau.

According to Zagazola, Ibn Mohammed is reportedly following the path of his father, who was one of the most notorious figures in Nigeria’s insurgency in the North-East.

Shekau became the leader of Boko Haram after the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and presided over some of the most violent periods of the insurgency.

Under his leadership, Boko Haram carried out attacks against communities, security personnel, government institutions and other civilian targets across the North-East and neighbouring countries.

Shekau was also known for his uncompromising leadership style and his use of propaganda videos to threaten governments and announce attacks.

“His death in 2021, following a confrontation with fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, significantly altered the dynamics of the insurgency in the Lake Chad region,” Zagazola noted.

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The United Kingdom has hailed the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the measures are beginning to deliver visible results despite the challenges associated with their implementation.

Speaking at the 4th UK–Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP4) dialogue in Abuja, UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell described Nigeria’s economic progress as a success story that demonstrates the value of difficult but necessary policy decisions.

Powell said the reforms are contributing to economic recovery and growth, adding that Nigeria’s influence on the African continent continues to expand. He described the country as an African superpower and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria remains the United Kingdom’s most important partner in Africa and plays a crucial role in promoting regional stability and addressing security challenges across the continent.

Also speaking at the event, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to democratic governance, human rights and the rule of law in tackling insecurity.

Ribadu warned that emerging thre@ts such as cybercr+me, artificial intelligence misuse and illicit financial networks are reshaping the global security environment. He called for deeper international cooperation, improved intelligence-sharing and greater investment in technology to address these challenges.

He also welcomed the UK’s support in cybersecurity and information resilience, noting that collaboration between both countries has expanded significantly since the launch of the UK–Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in 2022.

According to Ribadu, the partnership has strengthened cooperation in areas including counterterr%rism, cybersecurity, maritime security, crisis response and intelligence sharing, while improving Nigeria’s institutional and operational capabilities.