Abuja: Vice‑President Kashim Shettima has expressed grief over the death of 25 people in multiple explosions across Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday. He condemned the attacks, stressing that no faith permits the killing of innocent people.
Shettima spoke on Tuesday during the closing of the Annual Ramadan Tafsir at the State House Mosque, Abuja.
He emphasised that the sanctity of human life is central to all major world faiths and no religion advocates the killing of innocents.
Shettima prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the souls of those killed in the terror attack in Maiduguri eternal rest.
He also prayed to Allah to grant the victims Al-jannah firdaus and give their families strength.
“May the 25 innocent lives lost in Maiduguri rest in peace.
May Allah grant their souls eternal rest, Al-jannah firdaus, and their families strength.
He reiterated that no religion supports killing innocent people, reflecting the core message of his speech.
“Whatever that is motivating them, may Allah either guide them onto the right path or may Allah vanish them from the surface of the earth,” he said.
The vice-president emphasised the need for all Nigerians to continue praying for the country across all sectors.
He also appealed to Nigerians to pray that the Almighty should continue to grant President Bola Tinubu and members of his team wisdom and courage to govern the country.
According to him, each season of Ramadan reminds Muslims of a truth that power often tries to hide from man.
“And that no seat is permanent, just as no office is ultimate, and no human being stands above his dependence on his creator.
“In the presence of Allah, the distance between the mighty and the unknown vanishes. What remains is character, what remains is accountability, what remains is what we did with the trust placed in our hands.
“This is why gatherings such as this matter. They rescue public lives from arrogance; they retain soul to scale; they teach those entrusted with authority that the nation is not built by policy alone.
“But by conscience, not by proclamation alone, but by restraint; not by ambition alone, but by fear of Allah.”
Shettima called on the Muslim faithful to continue to act in line with the teachings and lessons of the month of Ramadan.
He noted that the true challenge is continuing Ramadan’s teachings—compassion, discipline, integrity—after the holy month ends.
“It is quite easy to cut the head when the atmosphere is charged with devotion. The harder task is to carry it into ordinary days, into the market, office, home, chamber of power, and the private corners where only Allah sees what we are doing, ” he noted.
While drawing from the lessons of Ramadan, the vice-president said the holy month taught Muslim faithful that pity without mercy is noise and worship without service is incomplete.
He urged people to maintain good character after Ramadan, avoiding negativity and promoting unity and responsible speech.
“A believer doesn’t spend the whole month learning only to become a captive of anger, greed and division.
“Nigeria needs homes where children encounter good examples before good advice. Nigeria, indeed, needs leaders in every sphere who understand that influence is a trust, not a license, ” Shettima said.
He lauded the Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwaheed Abubakar, and his lieutenant for conducting the Tafsir with wisdom and calm hearts.
Earlier, Abubakar, the Chief Imam, prayed for sustainable peace and development in Nigeria, and for the success of the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.
The cleric emphasised the need for leaders at all levels to continue discharging their responsibilities with the fear of Allah to enhance the country’s development.
