Sultan of Sokoto urges caution against fake news, denies any genocide in Nigeria
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has asserted that no act of genocide has occurred in Nigeria against any religious or ethnic group.
Speaking on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi at the opening of the 2025 Northern Traditional Rulers Assembly Meeting, the Sultan dismissed claims suggesting otherwise, insisting that such allegations are unfounded.
“There is no instance where anyone — whether Muslim or Christian — can be killed in a community without the traditional rulers being aware,” he said. “I challenge anyone, at home or abroad, to provide credible evidence of any genocide in Nigeria — where it happened, who was involved, and how.”
He cautioned Nigerians against accepting unverified information from social media, describing much of the content circulating online as false or misleading. “People must verify what they see or read before believing it,” the Sultan warned, calling on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to regulate social media activities in the country.
Addressing the purpose of the assembly, the Sultan explained that the meeting was convened to foster collaboration among traditional leaders and to develop effective strategies for combating insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
He commended Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris for hosting the event and expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for attending despite his demanding schedule.
Concluding his remarks, the Sultan urged Nigerians to continue praying for the country’s leaders and to uphold unity and peace across the nation.
