The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed claims of genocide against any religious or ethnic group in Nigeria, saying such allegations are baseless and unsupported by facts.
Speaking at the opening of the Northern Traditional Rulers Assembly Meeting in Birnin Kebbi, the monarch declared that there has been no record of genocide against Christians, Muslims, or any other group in the country.
“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,” the Sultan said.
“I challenge anyone, within or outside Nigeria, to provide evidence of any genocide — where, who, and how it happened.”
His remarks come amid renewed international debates over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria, with some foreign groups recently accusing the government of condoning violence against minority communities.
The Sultan warned Nigerians to be wary of misinformation circulating on social media, describing many of such claims as “false, exaggerated, and capable of sowing unnecessary tension.”
“Most of the information posted on social media is not true. People must verify such information before accepting it as fact,” he cautioned.
He further urged the Federal Government to introduce stricter regulations to check the spread of fake news and hate speech on digital platforms, stressing that social media abuse had become a major threat to national peace and unity.
“Social media must be regulated to curb the excesses of those who use it irresponsibly. We cannot continue to allow lies to divide our people,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of traditional rulers in maintaining national stability, Sultan Abubakar explained that the Northern Traditional Rulers Assembly was convened to strengthen community collaboration and develop new strategies for tackling insecurity across the North.
He commended Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State for hosting the assembly and applauded the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for attending the event despite his tight schedule.
The monarch concluded by calling on Nigerians to pray for the country’s leaders and to continue promoting peace and unity regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.
“Our collective progress depends on our unity. We must reject division and continue to work for the peace of our nation,” the Sultan said.
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