Claim: A Facebook user claimed the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, said Northern Nigeria is not afraid of Nigeria breaking up and if Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees it, let the Igbo go.
Verdict: False. We found no evidence that the Sultan made the statement, and his media and publicity officer debunked the claim.
Full Text
A Facebook user, @CALID VOICE ECO, on June 7, 2026, alleged in a video (archived here) that the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, said the North is not afraid of Nigeria breaking up.
“We are not afraid of Nigeria breaking up. If Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees it, let the Igbo go,” the overlaying text reads.
The Facebook caption in pidgin reads, “If unah no da fëær make unah release Nnamdi Kanu”, meaning “if the North is not afraid, then release Nnamdi Kanu.”
As of Aug. 15, 2026, the video had gained 996,000 views, 16,000 likes, 709 comments, and 1,400 shares.
Other Facebook users expressed support and scepticism towards the post in the comments section.
One user, @Akudinawa Edorji, wrote, “Don’t mind this mumu…” referring to the Sultan of Sokoto.
“Igbo and Yoruba are going, biko Nigeria must break to let peace reign, I beg. If una not afraid, make them release Inamdi Kanu now,” @Akinsanya Deborah wrote.
Another Facebook user, @Iheanacho Lucas, who also supports the claimant, wrote, “Why are you people afraid to let lgbos go? Better bow for them not to go.”
Cautioning the claimant, a Facebook user, @Zakari Aliu stated, “Your hatred and insults are too much. Watch out, please, for peace to rain!…”
The statement’s implications for Nigeria’s ethnic-political landscape and the high-profile personality associated with the claim prompted DUBAWA to verify it.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted an extensive Google search on the alleged statement attributed to the Sultan, but found no corroborating evidence.
His latest statement, published by media outlets, addressed inter-religious insults and called for peace.
“Christians should stop insulting Muslims and Muslims should stop insulting Christians, arguing that this is necessary for peaceful coexistence. He also stressed that Christians and Muslims are equal before God.”
On Aug. 18, 2026, at a lecture organised for journalists, the Sultan called for sustained efforts to promote peace in Nigeria.
We also found an Aug 8, 2026 report by The Cable, where the Sultan condemned the killing of an Igbo army officer.
Part of the report revealed that he was against persistent hate and discrimination towards minority Igbo Muslims in the South-East and called for an investigation by the Federal Government and armed forces.
The statement, which was released by Bashir Adefaka, the media aide to the Sultan of Sokoto, added that “failure to investigate the killing of any Nigerian” would tell a lot about the country’s nation-building.
We also contacted the Sultan of Sokoto through his palace media and publicity officer, Aminu Haliru, who dismissed the claim as false.
Haliru said, “That isn’t true. His Eminence would never make such a statement.” He described the Sultan as a nation-builder and promoter of peaceful coexistence and national cohesion among Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, social, regional, or political backgrounds.
Conclusion
The claim that the Sultan of Sokoto said Northern Nigeria is not afraid of Nigeria breaking up is false. We found no evidence that he said this online, and the Sultan’s media and publicity officer debunked the claim.
This fellowship is implemented by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) with support from the European Union.