The Media Team of the Sultan of Sokoto has dismissed as false a viral social media post alleging that Hyacinth Alia was pictured worshipping the monarch, describing the image as “fake, misleading and dangerous.”
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka, the team said the image, widely circulated on WhatsApp and other platforms, was “likely AI-generated” and deliberately designed to misinform the public and stoke religious and ethnic tensions amid the security challenges in Benue State.
The statement noted that the accompanying narrative falsely attempted to link the Sultan to the crisis in the state, warning that such claims were not only baseless but also capable of undermining national unity and peaceful coexistence.
“The content is a mischievous attempt to associate the revered leadership of Muslims in Nigeria with issues completely unrelated to his office or person,” the statement read.
The media team stressed that the Sultan, who also serves as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has consistently promoted interfaith harmony and national cohesion over the years.
It added that efforts to tarnish his image through fabricated content must be rejected by Nigerians, noting a growing trend of disinformation by certain individuals on social media aimed at deepening divisions in the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Sultan of Sokoto does not appear in the manner depicted in the circulated image whatsoever,” the statement said, adding that Islamic teachings forbid acts of prostration to any being other than Allah.
The media team called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take decisive action against purveyors of fake news and those inciting division, warning that individuals responsible for such content could soon be identified and profiled.
It also urged religious and community leaders to promote responsible communication, especially on social media, emphasising that safeguarding Nigeria’s unity requires collective effort across religious and ethnic lines.
The statement reaffirmed the Sultan’s commitment to peace, mutual respect and national unity.
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