- The Zamfara State Government has dismissed a viral claim that Zainab is set to face trial in a Sharia court for converting from Islam to Christianity.
- Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, referred to the report as “mischievous fake news” aimed at escalating religious tension and disrupting public peace.
The Zamfara State Government has officially denied widespread reports claiming that a 22-year-old woman named Zainab Muhamadu is facing a Sharia court trial for converting from Islam to Christianity.
In a statement released by Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the government described the story as “mischievous fake news” designed to stoke religious division and threaten public order.
“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 facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity,” Idris said. “We want to categorically state that it is the handiwork of enemies of peace, who are hellbent on creating a tension where there is none.”
The government said it promptly engaged security agencies and judicial authorities to investigate the claim, only to confirm that no such case exists.
To reinforce the clarification, Idris said the state consulted the Grand Khadi of the Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal, who confirmed that no court in Zamfara has ever handled such a case.
The government also debunked the image circulating with the false story, identifying the woman pictured as Aalia from Texas, USA, not Zainab from Nigeria.
Calling the situation a clear case of “yellow journalism,” the government urged security agencies to investigate and prosecute the individuals or groups behind the fabricated report. It also cautioned media platforms to prioritize accuracy over sensationalism.
“Media platforms that should provide the public with verified stories are becoming complacent, merely copying and pasting content from social media accounts eager for likes and comments,” the statement added.
The Zamfara State Government concluded by assuring the public that the story is entirely false and warned citizens to be wary of unverified and divisive online content.
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