The media team of the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Abubakar III has dismissed a viral image showing Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia in a posture of worship before the monarch.
In a statement on Sunday by Bashir Adefaka, the team said the image was false and created to mislead the public. It said the content was circulated on social media platforms with claims linking the Sultan to the security situation in Benue State.
“The image in question is fake, likely AI-generated, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public,” the statement said.
It added that the image and accompanying messages were intended to introduce religious and ethnic claims into the situation in Benue State.
“The accompanying commentary falsely alleges religious bias and attempts to inflame tensions by linking the Sultan to the crisis in Benue State. Such claims are baseless,” the statement said.
The media team said the Sultan has no connection to the claims and does not appear in the manner shown in the image.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Sultan of Sokoto does not appear in the manner depicted in the circulated image whatsoever,” it said.
It also stated that Islamic teaching does not permit prostration to any individual other than God.
The team said the Sultan has promoted dialogue and unity over the years and should not be linked to the claims being circulated.
It raised concerns about the spread of false information online and warned that such content could increase tension in parts of the country.
The statement called on security agencies to investigate those behind the content and take action.
It also urged religious and community leaders to encourage responsible use of social media.
The media team asked the public to disregard the image and related claims, saying they were not true.
