The Zamfara State Government has strongly refuted reports claiming that a 22-year-old woman named Zainab Muhamadu is scheduled to appear before a Sharia court on Friday for allegedly converting to Christianity.
In an official statement issued by Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson to the Governor of Zamfara State, the government labeled the story as entirely false and the product of misinformation propagated by unreliable social media platforms seeking attention and traffic.
According to the statement, a thorough investigation has confirmed that no such case exists in any Sharia court across Zamfara State. The government emphasized that the rumor was designed to incite religious tension and disrupt the peace.
“Our attention has been drawn to a false and malicious report alleging that Miss Zainab Muhamadu is facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity,” the statement read. “This fake news is the work of those determined to sow discord and create unnecessary tension in our state.”
The government further revealed that the image circulated alongside the report is not that of a Nigerian citizen. The woman in the photo was identified as Aalia, a resident of Texas, USA, thereby confirming the story’s fabricated nature.
To dispel any doubts, the Zamfara State Government consulted with the Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, who affirmed that no such case has ever been filed in any Sharia court within the state.
“This misinformation appears to be a calculated attempt to provoke unrest and spread a divisive narrative,” the government said. “We are concerned about the growing trend of irresponsible journalism, where online platforms publish unverified social media content without due diligence.
“We call on all citizens and media practitioners to reject this type of sensational and harmful journalism,” the statement concluded. “The peace and unity of our nation must not be sacrificed for the sake of viral headlines.”