Northern Islamic Leaders Decry Misuse Of Social Media

Prominent Islamic scholars and political figures from Northern Nigeria have raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity and the reckless use of social media, warning that the country risks descending into chaos unless urgent, coordinated actions are taken.

The alarm was raised during an extraordinary summit of Northern Ulamas convened in Kaduna. The summit brought together leading Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, lawmakers, and other influential figures to focus on addressing the growing threats to national peace, unity, and social cohesion.
The meeting highlighted the deepening concerns over social media’s divisive role, the spread of misinformation, and worsening economic hardship, all fueling instability across the North and beyond.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, in his message delivered by the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, stressed the need for unity among Muslim clerics while warning that failing to unite and promote harmony could exacerbate the already fragile security situation.

“This is the time to unite the Muslim Ummah,” the Sultan’s message stated.

“Our clerics must preach peace, tolerance, and national unity in line with Islamic teachings. Social media must also be regulated, as it is increasingly being used to spread division and hatred,” the message read.

The Sultan, who also serves as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), emphasised that authentic leadership among the Ulamas must be anchored in wisdom, restraint, and proactive engagement with the grassroots. He lamented that inflammatory preaching and the unchecked spread of unverified information online have worsened mistrust among communities.

“If we fail to speak with one voice,” the Sultan warned, “we risk handing over our future to chaos and confusion.”

On his part, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Leader of the House of Representatives, also added his voice to the call for unity, underscoring the importance of collaboration between religious leaders and political authorities in addressing national challenges.

“Security is everyone’s business,” Doguwa said. “In the National Assembly, we will support any initiative that unites our people and upholds Islamic values. To build lasting peace, our leaders must rise above partisan and sectarian divides.”

Doguwa, a longstanding advocate for religious harmony in governance, further emphasised that the legislative arm is ready to partner with religious institutions to promote moral values and responsible civic behaviour, particularly among the youth.

Also, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara West), a former governor of Zamfara State, contributed to the discussions by offering a candid self-assessment of the region’s security crisis. Yari noted that insecurity first took root in Muslim-majority areas before spreading across the country.

“Insecurity started in Muslim-dominated areas,” Yari observed. “We cannot blame the government alone. The solution lies in our hands — through unity, action, and honest dialogue.”

He also warned Nigerians against deepening a culture of economic dependency, saying laziness and misplaced priorities exacerbated the region’s socio-economic decline.

“We’re sleeping in our rooms and expecting to become billionaires. It doesn’t work that way,” Yari remarked. “We must face economic realities, work hard, and stop living in self-deception.”

Talking about the dangers posed by unregulated digital communication, Yari described social media abuse as a “ticking time bomb” that threatens both leaders and ordinary citizens alike. He called for regulating social media to protect the public space without infringing on free speech.

“Social media doesn’t spare anyone — rich or poor. It’s time to regulate it and use it responsibly, just as other nations do,” Yari stated.

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, attributed much of the insecurity in the North to external manipulation, poverty, and internal disunity among Muslims. He alleged that foreign interests were exploiting the region’s poor and uneducated herders to destabilise the area.

“Outsiders are fueling Banditry. They covet our mineral wealth and use our uneducated youth as pawns,” Gumi said. “We must talk among ourselves and find an internal solution to these challenges.”

Gumi also urged various Islamic sects to put aside doctrinal differences and engage in sustained dialogue to address issues of ignorance, unemployment, and extremism.

“Dialogue within the Ummah is key,” he said. “If we can solve our differences internally, outsiders will have no room to divide or exploit us.”

The summit concluded with a call for urgent action and greater unity in the face of the mounting challenges. Leaders across the North committed to addressing insecurity, the misuse of social media, and economic hardship in a concerted effort to restore peace and harmony to the region.