•Receives Sarkin-Haske traditional title
From Samson Alfa, Minna
Former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, has called on Nigerians to transcend religious divisions and embrace national unity during the commissioning of a newly renovated Juma’at Mosque at the Police Secondary School, PSS, Minna, Niger State.
The project, undertaken by the Sir Mike Okiro Foundation, includes a modern ablution facility designed to provide Muslim students and staff with a conducive environment for worship during school hours.
Speaking at the ceremony yesterday, Okiro, a devout Christian, emphasised that his faith dictates love, kindness, and service to humanity.
According to him, “When I observed that our Muslim brothers and sisters in this school had nowhere decent to pray, my conscience would not let me walk away. We all worship the same God. What binds us together is far greater than what divides us. No student should be compelled to choose between their education and their religious obligations”.
The gesture follows Okiro’s previous facilitation of a Catholic church within the same institution, inaugurated in 2025.
He described the new mosque as “a small structure with a big message”, symbolising a deliberate effort to counter division and foster trust among the next generation of Nigerians, urging students of all faiths to embrace tolerance, noting that respect for differing beliefs is essential for effective learning in a diverse environment.
In recognition of his tireless advocacy for peace, the Emir of Kagara, HRH Malam Ahmed Garba Attahiru ll, who represented the Emir of Minna, HRH Alhaji Umar Bahago announced that Okiro had been conferred with the traditional title of Sarkin-Haske of Niger State.
Attahiru lauded the former police chief for his leadership, noting that such initiatives are vital for overcoming the nation’s security and social challenges. “To renovate a Friday mosque demonstrates the synergy that should exist between the police and the people,” the Emir remarked.
Representing the current Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Elleman Adamu, described Okiro as a “father figure” and a steadfast promoter of interfaith harmony. Similarly, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mr Maurice Magaji, urged citizens to celebrate one another as family, asserting that faith and ethnicity are divine placements rather than choices.
Besides, the Commandant of PSS, Haruna Ibrahim, added that the project serves as an exemplary model of “faith in action”. Following the event, which was attended by religious leaders and community stakeholders, Okiro held a closed-door meeting with former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida ,retd, at his Hilltop Mansion for undisclosed discussions.
