Dare Babalola
American commentator, Mike Arnold, has alleged that insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria could have been significantly reduced if the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, had issued a decisive religious directive, arguing that “one fatwa” could have altered the trajectory of violence in the region.
A fatwa is a formal religious ruling or legal opinion issued by a qualified Islamic scholar on matters concerning Islamic law and practice.
In a post, which has since drawn widespread reactions online, Arnold accused the Sultan of failing to address escalating violence affecting Christian communities in northern Nigeria, while daring the traditional institution to proceed with an alleged legal threat against him.
“Six months of questions. 125,000 Christians killed since your reign began. Millions displaced. One American asking questions,” Arnold wrote, framing his remarks as persistent inquiries rather than direct accusations.
He further mocked what he described as an attempt to intimidate him through legal means, stating, “And the best response you could manage was a press release threatening to sue me — with my name spelled wrong.”
Arnold insisted throughout his post that he was merely seeking answers, emphasising that his concerns had been raised repeatedly since October without official response.
“For the record: I haven’t accused you of anything. I’ve asked questions. The same questions. Since October,” he said, adding that the Sultan had previously dismissed those inquiries as “undeserving of a response.”
The commentator pointed to past actions attributed to the Sultan during the height of insurgency challenges posed by Boko Haram, claiming that a religious decree had once played a role in curbing the group’s influence.
“One fatwa. That’s all it took,” Arnold wrote. “But somehow, with ISWAP running hundreds of documented attacks, you haven’t found it in you to issue a single one.”
He contrasted this with ongoing violence linked to armed groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province, alleging a lack of decisive religious or moral intervention from the Sultanate.
Arnold also raised concerns about economic implications of insecurity in northern Nigeria, referencing government estimates of large-scale mineral losses.
“The Nigerian government estimates $9 billion in minerals are looted every year from your hereditary lands. Where is the outrage? Where is the action?” he questioned.
He further linked the insecurity to humanitarian consequences, stating, “125,000 dead. Millions displaced. Your caliphate. Your watch. Your silence.”
In a dramatic tone, Arnold openly invited legal action from the Sultanate Council, suggesting that a court process could bring greater scrutiny to the issues he raised.
“So go ahead — sue me. Please. Discovery is a beautiful thing. Sworn testimony. Under oath. In front of the world,” he wrote.
He concluded the post with a direct address to the Sultan, saying, “I’ll see you there, Your Eminence. See you in court!”
The Sultan of Sokoto, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, remains one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional and religious leaders, often playing mediatory roles in national crises.
Arnold’s comments come amid ongoing national and international concern over insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where attacks by insurgent and bandit groups have continued despite military and government interventions.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no fresh official response from the Sultanate Council regarding Arnold’s latest remarks, though the situation continues to generate heated discourse across social and political circles.
