The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed allegations suggesting that Christians are being subjected to genocide in Northern Nigeria.
Speaking during the General Assembly of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, the monarch described such claims as baseless and intended to create division among Nigerians.
Reports of alleged Christian genocide resurfaced recently after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz claimed during a podcast with television host Bill Maher that Christians were being “systematically targeted and killed” in Nigeria. Maher and commentator Van Jones supported the claim, accusing the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the situation.
However, the Federal Government firmly rejected the accusations, calling them false and malicious propaganda designed to harm Nigeria’s international image. Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, speaking at the National Unveiling of the World Public Relations Forum in Abuja, said the claims were part of an orchestrated foreign campaign to weaken national unity.
Addressing the gathering, Sultan Abubakar stressed that both Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully in Northern Nigeria for centuries. He urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives aimed at fostering mistrust.
“For generations, Christians and Muslims have lived as brothers in the North. The claims of genocide are untrue and only seek to create conflict among people who share deep historical bonds,” he said.
The monarch also commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their continued efforts to tackle banditry and insurgency across the region. He praised the sacrifices made by security personnel and urged citizens to support them.
“Without the military, we wouldn’t be meeting here today in peace. We must continue to encourage and motivate them to do even more,” he added.
Sultan Abubakar reaffirmed the loyalty of traditional rulers to the Armed Forces and the Federal Government, pledging continued collaboration in efforts to restore stability across the North.
He further expressed concern over the misuse of social media, noting that misinformation and inflammatory content were escalating tensions across communities. The monarch revealed that he had personally been a victim of fake news and called on the government to regulate the spread of false information online.
Delivering his keynote address, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, appreciated the support of traditional institutions in the fight against insecurity. He assured that the military was determined to eradicate terrorism and banditry.
“The days of insurgents and bandits across the country are numbered. They will not overcome us — we will defeat them,” General Musa declared.
He emphasized that national security could only be achieved through collective effort, with traditional rulers playing a vital role in fostering peace and stability within their communities.
In his opening remarks, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting the military and the traditional institution. He denied reports that his government had contracted an international security company to combat banditry.
“We have not engaged any foreign firm. Rather, we are providing operational vehicles, motorcycles, and logistics support to the military to strengthen their operations,” the governor clarified.
Other prominent figures at the meeting included the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Illiyasu Bashar; the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi; and several emirs from across the 19 northern states. Together, they reaffirmed their commitment to national unity, peace, and the promotion of interfaith harmony.
