Senate orders crackdown on bandits flaunting crime cash on TikTok

The media team of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, has issued a forceful rebuttal to a viral social media post circulating an AI-generated image that falsely associates the revered Muslim leader with the ongoing security crisis in Benue State.

In a statement released on April 12, 2026, the Sultan's media team categorically described the image as "fake, likely AI-generated, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public." The statement further noted that the accompanying commentary sought to introduce "a divisive religious and ethnic narrative" into the complex security challenges confronting communities in Benue and beyond.

"The Sultan of Sokoto does not appear in the manner depicted in the circulated image whatsoever," the statement read. It further clarified that Islamic teachings reserve the act of prostration as an exclusive form of worship directed solely at Allah, rejecting any implication that the Sultan would engage in such an act toward any human figure.

The Sultan holds several preeminent positions of spiritual and traditional leadership, serving as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Chairman of the National Traditional Rulers Council, Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, and Co-President of World Religions for Peace. His media team emphasized that for nearly two decades, the Sultan has "consistently promoted peace, interfaith harmony, and national cohesion," making the fabricated image a stark departure from his established legacy.

The statement called on the federal government and relevant security agencies to take decisive action against purveyors of disinformation and those actively seeking to incite division along religious and ethnic lines. It further urged religious and community leaders across the country to champion responsible communication on social media platforms, where fabricated content can rapidly escalate tensions.

As of the time of this report, no arrests have been announced, and no official investigation into the origin or distribution of the AI-generated image has been disclosed by authorities.

The incident highlights the growing challenge posed by artificial intelligence tools in the spread of misinformation and the potential for such content to inflame existing fault lines in a nation navigating multiple security crises. Prime Brief Media will continue to monitor and report on disinformation campaigns that threaten Nigeria's fragile social fabric.