Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a united national front against terrorism and violent extremism, stressing that bombs and bullets do not discriminate between religion, ethnicity, or social class.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting on regional development organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, in Abuja on Thursday, Shettima warned that divisive sentiments only strengthen the enemies of peace.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, the Vice President said the government is adopting a coordinated approach to address the country’s security challenges — one that balances immediate response with long-term peacebuilding.
“A bullet or a bomb knows neither ethnicity nor religion. When it is fired by the enemies of our collective peace, it does not discriminate. It kills the farmer and the trader alike, and destroys the very fabric of our multi-religious and multi-ethnic society,” Shettima said.
He urged leaders at all levels to rise above ethnic and religious biases, saying governance must be seen as a collective mission of restoring national stability and unity.
“Our challenge is not only to fight the forces behind these conflicts, but also to dismantle the sentiments that are weaponised to divide us. Beyond policies and programmes, our messaging must be rooted in empathy and understanding,” he added.
Shettima emphasised that restoring public confidence requires thoughtful communication and inclusive governance that addresses the needs of all regions.
He warned that attacks by criminal groups inflict harm on all Nigerians and deepen the divisions that extremists exploit.
He further highlighted the need to strengthen public institutions and ensure government presence across the country, noting that national progress can only be achieved when every part of Nigeria develops at the same pace.
“We cannot claim to have progress as a nation unless each part of the federation moves forward together. What we need are functional institutions that guarantee government services even in the remotest parts of the country,” he said.
According to him, the administration’s decision to create regional development commissions across the six geopolitical zones is part of efforts to take development closer to the people and promote inclusive growth.
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He explained that the commissions are designed to serve dual roles — accelerating regional development and fostering shared learning among different parts of the country.
While acknowledging past collaborations with private and international partners, Shettima noted that previous initiatives often failed to capture the unique realities of each region.
He urged the new commissions to develop context-specific solutions and work together to achieve shared prosperity.
“Collaboration and a shared sense of purpose are essential to solving our long-standing developmental and security challenges,” he stressed.
The Vice President’s comments come amid renewed debates about religious persecution in Nigeria, following the United States’ recent listing of the country as one of “particular concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom.
Shettima, however, maintained that violent extremism in Nigeria targets everyone indiscriminately and can only be defeated through unity, empathy, and strengthened governance.