The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed claims of genocide in Nigeria, insisting that no ethnic or religious group — whether Christian or Muslim — has been subjected to such atrocities in the country.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi at the opening ceremony of the Northern Traditional Rulers Assembly Meeting (Kebbi 2025), the Sultan challenged anyone making such allegations to present credible evidence.
“There is no way someone, whether a Muslim or a Christian, can be killed without the knowledge of the traditional rulers of the community where such a person belongs,” he said.
“I challenge anyone, either within the country or abroad, to provide evidence of any genocide in Nigeria — where, who, and how it happened?” he added.
The Sultan cautioned Nigerians against accepting unverified information circulated on social media, warning that false narratives have fueled unnecessary divisions and heightened tensions.
“Most of the information posted on social media is not true. People must verify such information before accepting it as fact,” he stated.
He called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps toward regulating social media use, noting that the spread of fake news poses a serious threat to national peace and unity.
Speaking on the objectives of the traditional rulers’ meeting, the Sultan said the assembly was convened to strengthen community collaboration and develop fresh strategies to tackle insecurity across Northern Nigeria.
He also commended Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, for hosting the meeting and expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for his attendance despite a demanding national schedule.
The Sultan concluded by urging Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders and to remain steadfast in promoting unity, peace, and stability throughout the country.