Abuja, Nigeria – The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has sharply criticised the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, over his recent comments branding social media as a “terrorist organisation.” IPOB described the statement as “absurd” and accused the monarch of deflecting attention from the violence allegedly perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria.
The Sultan, who spoke on Tuesday during the 17th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Maiduguri, Borno State, lamented the role of social media in spreading misinformation and fuelling unrest. In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, he stated: “Social media is a terrorist organisation that we must deal with. Somebody will sit down in his comfort zone and formulate stories, and you will discover that it is not true.”
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Reacting to the statement, IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said the Sultan’s remarks reflect a growing fear among the northern elite of the growing power of digital platforms to expose atrocities and hold powerful actors accountable.
“Instead of condemning the well-documented killings, kidnappings, and land seizures perpetrated by Fulani terrorists over the past decade, the Sultan appears more concerned with the digital platforms exposing these heinous acts,” the IPOB statement read.
The pro-Biafra group argued that the Sultan’s comments are not only misplaced but also dangerous, especially given the ongoing security challenges in various parts of the country allegedly linked to armed Fulani groups. IPOB accused the Sultan, regarded as the spiritual head of Muslims in Nigeria, of remaining silent in the face of repeated massacres and displacements attributed to herdsmen, while using his platform to undermine efforts at citizen journalism and public accountability.
Citing proverbs like “a clear conscience fears no accusation” and “the wicked flee when no one pursues,” IPOB suggested that the Sultan’s attack on social media is a veiled attempt to silence victims and whistleblowers.
IPOB further accused the Nigerian government and the northern elite of deliberately manipulating the narrative around Fulani-linked violence. According to the group, mainstream media in the country has been used to reframe acts of terrorism as “farmer-herder conflicts” or actions by anonymous “bandits,” thereby shielding the perpetrators from scrutiny.
“Social media has become an indispensable tool for Nigerian youths and citizens who wish to expose the truth the mainstream media often conceals. Efforts to criminalise these platforms are attempts to suppress dissent and cover up the reality,” IPOB said.
The group maintained that silencing social media would be a futile venture, stating that platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become vital instruments in exposing human rights violations, political oppression, and terrorism.
“If the Sultan fears exposure, he should first call on the terrorists to disarm. IPOB and other indigenous groups will continue to use every lawful means, including social media, to resist oppression and hold those responsible for insecurity accountable,” the statement concluded.
The Sultan’s remarks have since drawn widespread backlash from civil society groups, media practitioners, and ordinary Nigerians who view social media as a vital space for free expression and democratic engagement. Many have expressed concern that such rhetoric from influential figures could lead to further restrictions on freedom of speech and press in the country.
