The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, has described social media as a “terrorist organization,” calling on security agencies to take firm action against the spread of misinformation online.

The monarch made the declaration during the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council held in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Tuesday.

Speaking on the impact of false information circulated online, the Sultan said, “What happened has happened and it’s there. You can’t come and be through social media. But that’s one terrorist organization, social media. Social media is a terrorist organization. What they do, what they, when somebody is in a comfort room and formulate stories…. So social media is a terrorist organization that we must deal with. Security agencies must deal with this terrorist organization called social media.”

The event, themed “Enhanced Security as Panacea for Stability and Development of the North,” brought together northern traditional rulers, political leaders, and security chiefs to discuss strategies to curb the region’s growing insecurity.

The Sultan emphasized that traditional leaders are not in competition with elected officials but rather serve a vital role in community peacebuilding and stability.

Discussions behind closed doors reportedly focused on the deteriorating security situation in Borno and other parts of the North.