SIR: May I suggest that we fully undersand the root of the increasing radicalisation of Muslim youths (Islamically). The root cause is the frustration of the indigenous tribes of the North with the Fulani settlers on the one hand and the resolution by the Fulani ruling clan to retain their minority rule, not only in Northern Nigeria, but throughout the country.

It must be understood that the population of Christians has increased among Northern youths while that of the Muslims is declining largely because of the proselytising successes of the Pentecostal Christian Churches.

When we say Ahlul Sunna, it does not only mean mainstream Islam. In its political context, it means the Sokoto caliphate. Ironically though, when we say the “radical muslims or fundamentalist,” we are talking about the opponents of the Sokoto calphate!

Consequently, Boko Haram, Izala and the brotherhood of Islam are unhappy with the Emirs (the caliphate) that have not delivered progress to all Northerners, through their hand-picked politicians over the years. They attribute their faulure to deliver progress to the North to their “ungodliness.” The Boko Haram for example provides food, clothings, start-up capital of their youths aged between 16 and 22. In addition, they are providing military training for self-defence. The Izala is protesting the dilution of Islamic worship by the “Ahlul Sunna (i.e. the caliphate). For example, they reject festivals which are expensive, and do not benefit the poor. They object to the expensive celebrations that follow Eid El Maulud. They object also to expensive weddings, naming ceremonies, burials etc. they also object to prostratign to elders because man should prostrating ONLY TO ALLAH.

In my years of research I have not found where these radical sects have actively canvassed the break-up of Nigeria the way the Sokoto caliphate and their supporters have done.

In this war among the Muslim faithful, Christians and Jews have always fallen victim and suffered collateral damage. (Because), the Ahlul Sunna blames the Pentecostal Christian Churches for “opening the eyes of the youths to (modernity) while the Muslim radicals blame them too for making the Ahlul Sunna become too much veered from the path of true Islam by Islam with look-alike Christian festivals like Christmas.

While the Izala sect has some political sympathy for the caliphate, they doctrinally are opposed to “innovations” to Islam. They, politically, do encourage “the caliphate’s expansionist agenda” for the Plateau which includes Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states. The Boko Haram, the Tijaniyya and the Qadriyya in that order oppose the caliphate domination. They do not oppose the supremacist agenda of the Fulani nation. Same goes for ANSARU.

What is playing out, therefore, is a declining Fulani authority that is trying to remain relevant in a world in which majority of its youths are violently and continuously rejecting their power to rule over them.

The caliphate is, however, undaunted. It has collaborated with the Federal Government (sic: infidels) to get them to abandon their hidden political agenda for caliphate change.

Furthermore, in order to provide opportunities to Fulani youths to remain rulers over the aborigenes of the North, emirate cells have been opened all over Nigeria. These cells have “traditional rulers” drawn exclusively from the Fulani stock to manage the affairs of the Arewa in various “Hausa settlements” around Nigeria.

Wealthy Hausa/Fulani men and women have bought huge acres of land in towns and villages around the country and “donated” same to the Hausa community members who wish to settle in them. In return they pay their allegiance to these (“serikis”) traditional rulers in such settlements. These people (serikis) are very wealthy and one of them in Ibafo was found to have a well-armed security guard.

This way the caliphate hopes to always be a step or two ahead of their radical youths who seek change.

Unfortunately, the ordinary Muslims and Christians in the street around Nigeria are caught in the middle because of poor intelligence gathering.

I, therefore, appeal to the governemnt to carefully seek out these power-hungry Fulanis, neutralise them, and leave other innocent ones alone.

Sheikh Alisufyan Gumel, Kashim Ibrahim Way,

Maiduguri.