Zamfara Govt Denies Sharia Court Sentencing of Zainab for Religious Conversion, Labels Report Fake News

 

The Zamfara State Government has firmly denied reports circulating online that a 22-year-old woman identified as Miss Zainab Muhamadu is facing trial in a Sharia Court for converting from Islam to Christianity. The state described the story as entirely false and a dangerous fabrication designed to stoke religious tension.

A statement released by the spokesperson for the Governor of Zamfara, Sulaiman Bala Idris, dismissed the report—which originated from Sahara Reporters—as fake news. According to Idris, the government promptly engaged relevant authorities and security agencies to verify the claims. Their findings revealed that the story is not only baseless but also involves a photo of a woman who is not Nigerian.

Further clarification from the Grand Khadi of the Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal confirmed that no such case has ever been filed in any Sharia court in the state. The statement criticized the online platform responsible for disseminating the story, calling it notorious for pushing unverified and sensational content.

The government identified the woman whose image accompanied the false report as Aalia, a resident of Texas, USA, unrelated to the alleged case. The use of her image in a fabricated narrative was described as unethical and a prime example of the kind of misinformation that threatens national peace.

Critics behind the story were labeled as “enemies of peace” whose objective is to sow division and stir unrest by leveraging religious sentiments. The government condemned the tactics of clickbait journalism that thrive on spreading sensationalized content without verification.

Officials emphasized that no such event, trial, or prosecution is taking place in Zamfara State, warning the public not to fall prey to such deceitful narratives. The government also highlighted the growing danger of misinformation in the digital age, where platforms that should be gatekeepers of truth are increasingly becoming echo chambers for unverified social media posts.

The statement called on security agencies to investigate the origins of the false report and bring those responsible to justice. It urged media houses and social media users to uphold ethical standards and resist the temptation to publish stories that have not been properly vetted.

As part of the government's response, a strong call was made for the public to reject divisive content and remain committed to maintaining peace across communities. The officials reiterated that preserving harmony in a multi-religious society requires collective responsibility and vigilance against those who profit from discord.

By confronting the spread of the fabricated story head-on, Zamfara State seeks to reassure its citizens and the broader Nigerian public that no such case exists, and that efforts are underway to hold purveyors of falsehood accountable.