Kaduna Commissioner Warns Against Fake News, Urges Religious Leaders to Promote Truth

By Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, has warned against the increasing spread of fake news and false narratives, stating that they pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s peace and stability.

Salisu gave the warning during a two-day workshop organised by Alkalanci for female Islamic scholars and teachers in Kaduna.
She noted that misinformation and disinformation continue to weaken social cohesion, foster distrust, and trigger conflicts among communities.

The commissioner expressed concern that false information has, in the past, incited communal and ethno-religious violence in the state and beyond, stressing the urgent need for stakeholders to actively combat the menace.

“Fake news and false narratives are dangerous to the peace and stability of our society,” Salisu said.

She cautioned that unchecked misinformation could heighten tensions and lead to avoidable crises, particularly with the rapid spread of information on social media platforms.

Salisu described the training as timely and strategic, noting that it targets religious leaders who wield significant influence over public opinion.

She added that female preachers and teachers play a critical role in shaping values and guiding communities, making their involvement essential in the fight against misinformation.

The commissioner urged participants to remain attentive, open-minded, and committed to applying the knowledge gained to educate others within their communities.

In her opening remarks, Alkalanci’s Programme Manager, Bamas Victoria, said the initiative aims to equip participants with practical skills to identify and counter misinformation.

She described the programme as a women-driven effort designed to empower female scholars, teachers, and community leaders to serve as custodians of truth.

Victoria further explained that the programme is part of a broader initiative to tackle misinformation in the Hausa-language space across Nigeria and the Sahel region.

According to her, similar interventions have been successfully implemented in Kano, Sokoto, Gombe, and Maradi in the Republic of Niger, yielding positive results.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Mata Media, Fauziyah Kabir Tukur, said the training would help participants understand the dangers of false narratives and build their capacity to identify misleading content, particularly in sensitive areas such as religion, politics, and health.