The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed the claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria as a false alarm, saying the narratives should not be allowed to continue.
The Sultan disclosed this at the 2025 General Assembly of Northern Traditional Council, with the theme “Strengthening Community Collaboration for Lasting Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria”, held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on Tuesday.
“They have been saying there was genocide of Christians in Nigeria by the Western countries such as the USA, Canada and others. Where, when? These are false stories,” he said.
The Sultan explained that it was not possible that such killing would happen in any part of Nigeria, and traditional rulers would not know about it.
He appealed to leaders in the country to regulate social media due to damage and negative content that their operators are publishing against the country and individuals.
The Sultan also urged Nigerians to refrain from castigating the military, stressing that without their sacrifices, the nation would not have remained a united and peaceful entity.
He acknowledged that the military has its challenges and shortcomings but described social media comments alleging that security forces are colluding with bandits as “callous and unbecoming.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of traditional rulers to the survival of democracy and loyalty to all elected leaders, including the President, National and State Assemblies, and Governors.
The Sultan also called on traditional rulers present at the meeting to unite and collectively address the nation’s challenges, noting that their recommendations and suggestions would be forwarded to Northern Governors for necessary action.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, said traditional leaders play a vital role in promoting peace and stability.
He said they possess the capacity to reduce tension, resolve conflicts, and broker peace in crises.
Declaring the meeting open, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris pledged continued support for traditional institutions, including improving their welfare and providing modern facilities.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, assured that all security agencies are working tirelessly to restore peace and stability in the North.
He described traditional rulers as the first line of engagement between the government and the people, commending their wisdom and steadfastness as a source of inspiration to the armed forces.
200 churches, 6,000 mosques destroyed in North – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Nigerian Christian leaders of using the United States as a tool of intimidation to pressure the federal government and marginalise Muslims in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights group alleged that reports of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria were surprisingly sent to the US by some leaders back home.
This, he noted, is because the US is perceived as a Christian superpower, rather than to African institutions such as the African Union or ECOWAS.
According to MURIC, the move reveals a deeper agenda of neo-imperial domination and religious favouritism aimed at securing undue advantages for Christians.
“We have followed the current controversy over the allegation that only Christians are being killed in Nigeria with deep concern.
“Nigerian Muslims also suffer killings, often in larger numbers, but their plight goes unreported because global narratives are controlled by a Christo-Western media”, he said.
Akintola argued that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of terrorism, noting that criminal groups often target crowded places such as churches and mosques.
“This explains why the main victims in Christian-concentrated states like Benue and Plateau are Christians, while those in Muslim areas like Sokoto and Zamfara are Muslims.
“While about 200 churches were destroyed across the North, no fewer than 6,000 mosques were also demolished in the same region”, he said.
MURIC further alleged that Muslims in Southern Nigeria suffer systemic marginalisation, alleging that their grievances are ignored by both state and federal authorities.
It also accused sections of the Nigerian media of bias.
He said some of them sensationalised the killings of Nigerian Christians while those of Muslims are downplayed or ambiguously described.
MURIC described the recent reports to the US as part of an attempt to arm-twist the Nigerian government into granting what it called “undeserved political and economic favours” to Christians.
Citing America’s support for Israel and its global military actions, Akintola questioned the moral standing of the US to judge Nigeria on human rights or religious issues.
“It is moral bankruptcy to report Nigeria to America, least of all to former President Donald Trump. How can a country that funds genocidal wars sit in judgment over another,” he said.
MURIC further accused some Christian-owned media outlets of fanning religious division by excluding Muslim voices from national discussions.
“Muslim commentators are deliberately shut out of Christian television and radio stations that freely demonise Islam. Such practices undermine professionalism and fairness in journalism”, Akintola maintained.
MURIC urged the federal government not to yield to what it called “Christian blackmail gimmicks” or to turn Nigerian Muslims into “guinea pigs in a dangerous experiment.”