Rumors circulating widely on social media, especially on platforms like WhatsApp, falsely claimed that the Sultan of Sokoto had passed away in his London apartment following a severe infection.
In a phone conversation with Daily Trust, Kilgori denied the report nd urged the public to disregard the rumors, stating, “This story is untrue.
He said, “it is a fake news by some unscrupulous elements. We don’t know their motive. We don’t know what they want to achieve by fake news against the Sultan.
But the Sultan is hale and hearty. I am right now with him. In fact, we just left Kaduna for Abuja where the Sultan is having another official engagement. Let the general republic disregard this story because it is not truth.
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) also refuted the claims in a statement, reassuring the public that “His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, is alive, healthy, and actively fulfilling his role as a spiritual leader to millions within Nigeria and beyond.
MPAC called on people to verify news sources carefully, warning that baseless rumors can be distracting and misleading.
The statement said, “The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) wishes to notify the Ummah and address recent unfounded rumors concerning the supposed passing of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
We unequivocally affirm that, Alhamdulillah, the Sultan is alive, in good health, and fully engaged in his esteemed responsibilities as a spiritual guide to millions in Nigeria and beyond.
We urge the public to disregard the malicious rumors and to remain vigilant in verifying news sources. Such rumors only serve to distract and mislead.
The Sultan’s leadership and contributions to promoting peace, unity, and Islamic values in Nigeria are invaluable, and we will not let false information tarnish his reputation. May Allah protect and preserve our leaders and inspire us all to uphold truth and respect in every word and action.
We also note that the Sokoto State Government has previously denied any plans to dethrone the Sultan, describing such allegations as false. The government has reassured the public that the law guiding the appointment of traditional rulers in the state remains unchanged.
We call on the law enforcement agencies to investigate the sources of these malicious rumors, identify and prosecute the perpetrators and take measures to prevent future occurrences.
Lastly, we call on the public to verify information through credible sources and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities. Let us work together to maintain peace and stability in our communities.
