Muslim groups condemn fake image of Benue Governor and Sultan, urge action
By KEMI KASUMU
The reaction follows a statement from the Sultan’s media team, which dismissed the viral image — widely shared across WhatsApp and other social media platforms — as fake, misleading, and likely generated using artificial intelligence.
Muslim leaders and advocacy groups have condemned the circulation of a fabricated image allegedly depicting the Governor of Benue State Hyacinth Alia in a prostrating posture before the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, describing it as a dangerous act of misinformation.
The reaction follows a statement from the Sultan’s media team, which dismissed the viral image — widely shared across WhatsApp and other social media platforms — as fake, misleading, and likely generated using artificial intelligence. The statement warned that the content attempts to introduce divisive religious and ethnic narratives into the ongoing security challenges in Benue State.
According to the media office, the image falsely suggests religious bias and links the Sultan to the violence in the state, allegations it described as baseless and harmful to national unity. The statement emphasized that Islamic teachings prohibit such acts of worship toward any individual, reinforcing that the depiction is inconsistent with the Sultan’s faith and principles.
The Sultan, who also serves as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and holds multiple interfaith leadership roles, has long been recognized for promoting peace and religious harmony. His media team said attempts to tarnish this record through fabricated content should be rejected.
In response to the controversy, several Muslim groups called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action against the spread of disinformation. They warned that such content risks inflaming tensions and destabilizing already fragile communities.
Speaking in Abuja, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Chairman of the Muslim Media Watch Group, criticized what he described as weak enforcement of cybercrime laws. He urged authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for creating and distributing false content.
Participants at a forum of Muslim intellectuals also called for intervention by security agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, describing the incident as a clear case of defamatory cyberbullying.
Authorities have yet to announce any arrests related to the incident, but calls for stronger action against misinformation continue to grow.
