The Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, has issued a firm denial in response to claims circulating online that he accompanied the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, to visit the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Custodial Centre. The rumours spread widely after social media users alleged that the two governors jointly visited the facility where Kanu is being held.
Speaking through his media team, Governor Aliyu dismissed the reports as entirely false and misleading. He stated that at no point did he participate in any such visit and emphasised that the narrative was engineered to create unnecessary controversy. The Sokoto government maintained that the governor has no involvement in matters concerning Nnamdi Kanu and advised the public to disregard the claims.
The state government further warned that individuals who spread misinformation will be held accountable under Nigeria’s laws. Officials stressed that false reports of sensitive political interactions have the potential to incite division and undermine public trust in state institutions. They urged citizens to verify information before sharing it and reminded political actors not to exploit delicate national issues for attention or partisan gains.
The allegation gained traction partly because of the charged atmosphere surrounding discussions of Nnamdi Kanu, whose detention continues to generate strong emotions in different parts of the country. His legal battles and the broader political tensions connected to the Indigenous People of Biafra movement remain highly topical. Analysts say that any rumour involving a high level visit tends to spread quickly, even without verification.
The governors response has, however, helped to calm the situation in Sokoto State. Political observers expect that authorities will increase monitoring of online activity to prevent further escalation of speculative narratives.
