Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has dismissed as fake news a viral publication alleging that he accused Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, of creating Boko Haram.
The report, which circulated widely online, had quoted Sheriff as saying, “It’s not me; it’s Shettima who created Boko Haram.”
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, the former governor described the publication as “false, malicious, and dangerous.”
According to him, “The said story is a complete fabrication, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign the person of Senator Sheriff, and sow discord within the nation’s political landscape.”
Sheriff maintained that he never granted any interview nor spoke to any journalist on the matter, insisting that the story was crafted to undermine his long-standing reputation.
The statement further noted, “This false report is not only mischievous but also a dangerous piece of fake news aimed at undermining years of Senator Sheriff’s contributions to peace, national unity, and development, both in Borno State and across Nigeria.”
Sheriff emphasised his continued commitment to supporting national cohesion and stability.
The former governor has instructed his legal team to track down those behind the publication.
He said, “Senator Sheriff has instructed his legal team to take immediate steps to identify all individuals, bloggers, or media outlets responsible for the dissemination of this defamatory material.”
He warned that failure to retract the story would attract full legal consequences.
“Should the false publication not be retracted and taken down forthwith, the Senator will not hesitate to seek full legal redress under the law,” the statement added.
Sheriff concluded by reaffirming his dedication to Nigeria’s security, stability, and democratic values, vowing that those spreading misinformation would not go unpunished.
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