There is something deeply troubling about a lie that refuses to go away—especially when that lie is carefully crafted to divide people along religious lines.
The now-viral video claiming that the residence of Matthew Hassan Kukah, along with the Sokoto Catholic Cathedral and a ₦1 billion pastoral centre, was set ablaze by “Islamists” is one such lie. It is false. It has always been false. And yet, it keeps resurfacing—repackaged, reposted, and weaponised.
ASHENEWS is pleased that the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has once again set the record straight. In clear and measured language, the Diocese confirmed that there was no attack. The Bishop’s residence is safe. The Cathedral is intact. The pastoral centre is fully operational. Sokoto itself remains calm.
So why does this story keep coming back?
Because it serves a purpose.
This same video first gained traction in the tense period following the Murder of Deborah Yakubu—a moment when emotions were already raw, and the country was grieving. At that time, misinformation found fertile ground. Now, years later, the same content is being recycled—not out of ignorance, but out of intent.
Intent to provoke.
Intent to mislead.
Intent to divide.
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What makes it more concerning is how far this falsehood has travelled. Narratives built on content like this have been echoed in international spaces, sometimes by powerful figures linked to Donald Trump, feeding a broader and misleading picture of Northern Nigeria as a place defined solely by religious violence. In some extreme cases, such distortions have even been used to push for reckless labels against historic institutions like the Sokoto Caliphate.
But Nigeria is more complex—and more resilient—than these narrow portrayals suggest.
On the ground in Sokoto, there is no burning cathedral. There is no religious war. There are communities—Muslims and Christians—going about their lives, coexisting as they have for generations. What exists instead is a digital wildfire, fuelled by those who benefit from chaos more than peace.
And the damage is real.
Every time this video is shared, it deepens suspicion. It feeds stereotypes. It widens the cracks in a society that is already managing enough real challenges. It also unfairly targets entire communities—especially Muslims in Northern Nigeria—by painting them with a broad and dangerous brush.
Even within Nigeria, the ripple effects are evident. Some groups have seized on narratives like this to push divisive agendas, branding others as outsiders or “lesser” based on faith. That is not just dishonest—it is dangerous.
The truth, however, remains stubbornly simple: nothing in that video reflects reality.
This is why responsibility matters.
Media platforms must do more than chase virality—they must verify. Influencers and public figures must resist the temptation to share outrage before facts. And ordinary citizens must learn to pause, question, and verify before hitting “forward.”
Because in today’s world, sharing a lie is no longer harmless—it is participation.
Nigeria cannot afford to be held hostage by recycled falsehoods. The stakes are too high. The consequences are too severe.
The Sokoto video is not just fake news. It is a test of our ability to choose truth over manipulation, and unity over division.
And it is a test we must not fail.
