According to a report by the Punch on Sunday, July 12, 2026, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has cautioned Nigerians against associating the Arabic language exclusively with Islam, stressing that the language is spoken by millions of people across the world regardless of their religious beliefs.
The monarch explained that speaking Arabic or bearing an Arabic name should never be used as proof that someone is a Muslim. He said many people from different faiths communicate in Arabic because it is their native or official language, not because of their religion.
Emphasising his point, Oba Akanbi stated, “Many churches in Arab countries use the Arabic language to preach.” He said this clearly shows that Arabic is a universal language used by both Christians and Muslims in several countries, making it wrong to use it as a basis for religious identification.
He further argued that misconceptions about the Arabic language have contributed to the unfair profiling of Muslims whenever criminal activities such as banditry occur. According to him, the language, like any other, belongs to diverse communities and should not be used to judge an individual’s faith or character.
The traditional ruler maintained that security agencies and members of the public should concentrate on identifying criminals through credible intelligence and evidence rather than relying on assumptions based on language, appearance or cultural practices. He warned that such stereotypes only deepen religious divisions and distract attention from the real causes of insecurity.
Oba Akanbi therefore appealed to Nigerians to promote peaceful coexistence by respecting religious and cultural differences. He also urged citizens to reject narratives that falsely associate crime with any religion, insisting that criminality should be confronted through justice, fairness and effective security measures rather than prejudice……See More
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