The media office of the Sultan of Sokoto has officially refuted a widely shared image that purportedly shows Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, in a gesture of deep reverence towards the Sultan. In a statement released on Sunday, Bashir Adefaka, speaking for the Sultan's media team, declared the image to be fabricated, possibly created using artificial intelligence, and designed to mislead the public.
Adefaka described the image as a "mischievous and dangerous attempt" to involve the Sultan in political disputes, asserting that it was created to stir religious and ethnic tensions. The fabricated image has circulated extensively across social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
Some online posts accompanying the image falsely suggested that the governor's approach to addressing security issues in Benue State was influenced by allegiance to northern Muslim leadership. The Sultan's media team has dismissed these claims as entirely unfounded.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Sultan of Sokoto does not appear in the manner depicted in the circulated image whatsoever," the statement read. It also emphasized that Islamic tenets forbid prostration to anyone other than God.
The Sultan's office highlighted the Sultan's consistent efforts over nearly two decades to foster interfaith dialogue and promote national unity. He currently holds significant positions as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter- Religious Council.
The media team expressed serious concern over what they identified as a deliberate pattern of disinformation spread by certain online actors. They warned that such content could worsen existing conflicts in various parts of the country and urged security agencies to investigate and take action against those responsible for propagating falsehoods that could incite division.
They also called upon religious and community leaders to champion the responsible use of social media. The controversy emerges during a period of heightened tension in Benue State, where persistent attacks have led to public frustration and intensified political discourse regarding identity and accountability.
The viral image, in this context, appeared to exacerbate these sensitivities, with some individuals using it to question the governor's performance in managing the crisis. The Sultan's media team has implored the public to disregard the image and any associated narratives, stressing the importance of resisting attempts to erode trust through manufactured content for the sake of national cohesion.
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