The Zamfara State Government has dismissed as false a report circulating on social media claiming that a young woman, Zainab Muhamadu, is set to stand trial before a Sharia court on Friday for converting from Islam to Christianity.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, Governor Dauda Lawal described the report as entirely baseless, saying it originated from dubious online platforms aiming to drive traffic with sensational and misleading content.
‘The attention of the Zamfara State Government has been drawn to mischievous fake news circulating about a 22-year-old Miss Zainab Muhamadu, who is allegedly facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity’, the statement read.
‘We want to categorically state that this is the handiwork of enemies of peace, who are determined to create tension where none exists’.
The government said it took the report seriously and immediately consulted all relevant authorities and security agencies to verify the claims. ‘It was ultimately confirmed to be a blatant falsehood’, Idris stated.
To leave no room for doubt, the state government also reached out to the Grand Khadi of the Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal, who confirmed that no such case has ever come before any Sharia court in the state.
‘This raises critical questions: where did this dangerous and divisive narrative originate? What are its underlying motives? What do those promoting such a story hope to achieve in the long run?’ the statement queried.
Idris lamented that some media platforms now recklessly share unverified content from social media, abandoning their duty to inform the public with credible and factual reporting.
He further revealed that the image used in the viral post was of a woman named Aalia, who is not a Nigerian but a resident of Texas, United States.
‘The Zamfara State Government believes it is essential to make it clear that nothing of this nature is happening within the state’, he said.
Describing the report as a classic case of yellow journalism, Idris urged all Nigerians to reject such falsehoods.
He also called on security agencies to investigate the source of the fake news and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
‘We urge relevant security agencies to identify and prosecute those behind this dangerous, misguided story aimed at inciting religious tension. We must all do our part to safeguard the peace of this country’, he stated.
