Ex-US mayor, Sultan differ on ‘Christian genocide’ claim

A former Mayor of Blanco City in Texas, United States, Mike Arnold, has called on the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, to provide evidence clearing himself of alleged complicity in what he described as “jihad genocide” and widespread killings across northern Nigeria.

However, the Sultanate Council of Sokoto dismissed Arnold’s statement as baseless and undeserving of a response, saying the Sultan would not dignify the accusations with a reply.

The controversy followed a series of social media posts by Arnold, founder of Africa Arise International, accusing the Sultan of being complicit in mass killings and resource looting in parts of the North.

The Sultan had earlier rejected claims that Christians were being subjected to genocide in the region, describing such allegations as false, divisive, and based on unverified social media reports.

In a statement on Saturday, Arnold insisted that available data and incidents across northern Nigeria suggested the Sultan could not be entirely detached from the violence occurring “under his nose.”

“The evidence points to there being an intelligent designer of this whole diabolical machine of jihad, genocide, conquest, displacement, and resource extraction. There are many provable data points, and I believe they paint a picture that demands the Sultan be investigated.

“I’m not declaring him guilty, only a prime suspect based on all available evidence. The facts demand investigation and answers to either determine his guilt or clear him of it,” he told PUNCH.

Arnold further questioned what he described as the Sultan’s “silence and inaction” amid the wave of violent attacks targeting Christian communities.

“The Nigerian government estimates that at least $9bn a year in minerals are looted from his hereditary lands. Why hasn’t he tried to stop this? He has powerful armed militias under his authority, does he not? So why aren’t the illicit miners being stopped? Who is getting that money?” he asked.

The ex-mayor also accused the Sultan of failing to act against militant Fulani groups, noting that while the monarch once issued a fatwa against Boko Haram after the sect challenged his authority, “no similar action has been taken against Fulani militants.”

“There have been more than 7,000 Christians massacred this year in his territory. If his own statement that no killing happens without traditional rulers knowing about it is true, then he knows more than anybody else,” Arnold added.

But in a reaction, the Secretary of the Sultanate Council, Alhaji Saidu Maccido, said the Sultan would not dignify the accusations with a response, adding that both the Federal Government and the Nigerian Senate had previously addressed the issue.

“The Sultan will not bring himself down to respond to such allegations again. The Federal Government has responded, and the Senate also passed a resolution on it. Responding again will only make them feel important,” Maccido stated.

He reaffirmed the Sultanate Council’s commitment to peace, unity, and national stability, urging Nigerians to ignore divisive and inflammatory narratives.

“The Sultanate Council remains focused on promoting peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and truth. We will not be distracted by baseless accusations,” he said.