The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has described social media as a “terrorist organisation” that must be tackled urgently to prevent it from exacerbating Nigeria’s fragile security situation.
Speaking during the seventh executive committee meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held on Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno State, the monarch decried the unchecked spread of misinformation online, warning that it could deepen the country’s security woes.
“What happened has happened. It can’t come and be through social media. That’s one terrorist organisation—social media,” the Sultan declared.
He accused some individuals of hiding behind their screens to fabricate stories and spread falsehoods, thereby stoking unrest and endangering national unity.
“Somebody will sit in his comfort zone and formulate stories and you will think it is true. So, social media is a terrorist organisation that we must deal with. Security agencies must deal with this terrorist organisation called social media,” he said.
His comments come amid rising concerns over the role of social media in shaping public narratives and spreading panic, particularly in the aftermath of violent attacks across the country.
The Sultan specifically referenced the persistent attacks in Plateau and other troubled areas, calling them “worrisome” and in urgent need of government intervention.
“We are not happy with what is happening either on the Plateau or other places,” he added.
Human rights group Amnesty International recently revealed that the death toll from a renewed wave of violence in Plateau State had risen to 54, with hundreds displaced and living in fear of further attacks.
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