Former Governor of Borno State and Senator, Ali Modu Sheriff, has refuted a viral social media report alleging that he accused Vice President Kashim Shettima of creating the Boko Haram terrorist group.
In a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, Sheriff described the publication titled “It’s Not Me, It’s Shettima Who Created Boko Haram, Sheriff Reveals” as completely false, malicious, and designed to mislead the public.
“The story is a total falsehood, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to sow discord within the nation’s political landscape,” the statement read.
Sheriff, who governed Borno State from 2003 to 2011, stressed that he never granted any interview or made comments linking the Vice President to the militant group.
“At no time did Senator Sheriff engage with any journalist on this matter,” the statement said.
The former governor condemned the report as a “dangerous piece of fake news” aimed at damaging his reputation and undermining his contributions to peace, unity, and development in both Borno State and Nigeria as a whole.
Sheriff reaffirmed his commitment to national stability and urged the public to disregard the false narrative.
“This story was concocted to cause political confusion and tarnish my image. I remain dedicated to promoting peace, truth, and accountability,” he said.
The statement further disclosed that Sheriff had directed his legal team to initiate steps to identify and prosecute those responsible for publishing and circulating the false report.
“Should the publication not be retracted, the Senator will seek full legal redress,” it warned.
Sheriff also appealed to members of the media and the public to verify information before dissemination, noting that the spread of false stories poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity and democracy.
“I call on credible journalists to uphold the ethics of their profession and reject fake news. Nigeria needs facts, not fabrications,” he added.
The statement restated the assurance of Sheriff’s support for the federal government’s efforts to tackle insecurity and maintain peace across the country.
