Four Purported Lies of the Day
By: Zagazola Makama
On September 5, several controversial stories made rounds on social media and WhatsApp platforms, each containing false and misleading claims. Here are four major fabrications that were debunked:
1. False Abduction of Sheikh Dr. Bashir Ahmad Sokoto’s Family
A widely circulated claim suggested that the family of renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dr. Bashir Ahmad Sokoto, including his wife, children, stepmother, and sister, were abducted, and that their driver was killed. This story provoked outrage, with many criticizing Nigerian security agencies.
However, fact-checks by Zagazola Makama revealed that the claim was completely FALSE.
Intelligence sources confirmed that Dr. Bashir Ahmad Sokoto himself dismissed the story. He explained that the kidnapping incident referenced in discussions involved a different family in Zamfara State in 2023. The Sheikh urged the public to disregard the misleading reports.
2. Fake Letter Allegedly Linking Zamfara State Government to Bandits
A fabricated letter, purportedly from the Government House in Gusau and signed by the SSG, Alhaji Abubakar Nakwada, claimed that Governor Dauda Lawal had ordered the release of ₦1,378,000,000 to several notorious bandit leaders. The letter also falsely implicated Sahara Reporters, Jackson Ude, and others in financial dealings with the government.
All those blackmail in the report were those who carried the stories Bello Turji linking Alhaji Bello Mattawalle, the Minister of Defence, with Terrorism and the recent scandal of Alhajo Bashir Hadejia who was arrested for terror sponsorship, arms and gold smuggling among other series of crimes.
The Zamfara State SSG, Alhaji Abubakar Nakwada, while reacting to the purported document said” This baseless document also aimed to link Zamfara’s government to recent calls for peace by Bello Turji, a known bandit leader. Governor Lawal’s administration has firmly denied negotiating with terrorists, and officials stressed that the document was a deliberate attempt to undermine the government’s security efforts. The story is FALSE and misleading.
3. Audio Claiming Soldiers Deployed to Konduga for Elimination
Another hoax involved an audio clip allegedly featuring a soldier claiming that the Nigerian Army was deploying troops to Konduga with the intention of eliminating them. The clip was an old interview by Aliyu Mustapha Sokoto from VOA, dating back to 2014 when Sambisa forest was a stronghold of Boko Haram’s Shekau faction.
Today, over 160,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered, and Sambisa forest has been cleared. The claims of planned elimination of soldiers are FALSE and outdated.
4. Fake News on Mass Resignation of Nigerian Soldiers
Another false report alleged that dozens of Nigerian soldiers had resigned due to poor welfare conditions and were seeking to join foreign militaries, including the British and Ukrainian forces. The story attributed the so-called "mass exodus" to inadequate equipment and low morale within the Nigerian Army.
This claim was thoroughly debunked, with military sources confirming that there has been no such wave of resignations. The welfare of the Nigerian Army is regularly reviewed, and such reports are aimed at undermining the military’s morale. The story is FALSE
These fabrications serve as a reminder of the dangers of fake news. Always verify information from trusted sources before sharing.
