The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has opined that terrorism thrives in the North because youths in the region are not gainfully employed.
He stressed that Nigeria must focus on rebuilding the socio-economic life of citizens, especially in the Northeast where terrorism holds sway.
The Sultan made the call at the University of Ibadan, UI’s 67th Foundation Day in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he was installed as the Chancellor of the institution.
Reacting to the deplorable state of the socio-economic life in the North, he disclosed that there are over 2.5 million out-of-school children, popularly called Almajiri, in some states in the North, adding that the figure is higher than those enrolled in school in some states.
Abubakar further stated that insurgency has displaced over two million people.
To overcome the challenge, the UI Chancellor said Nigeria must focus on increasing school enrollment, training youths in the acquisition of skills and opening up opportunities for skilled labour.
Abubakar who distanced terrorism from Islam, described the scourge as perpetrated by “deluded individuals who are hiding under religion to perpetrate evil”.
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