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“Ex-U.S. Mayor Accuses Sultan of Sokoto of Involvement in Jihad Genocide, Demands Probe”
Former Mayor of Blanco City, Texas, Mike Arnold, has accused the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, of being a “prime suspect” in what he describes as a coordinated “jihad genocide” and mass violence in northern Nigeria.
In an interview with The Punch, Arnold claimed that data and recurring incidents in the region suggest that the Sultan cannot be completely absolved of the ongoing violence, particularly attacks on Christian communities.
“The evidence points to there being an intelligent designer of this whole diabolical machine of jihad, genocide, conquest, displacement, and resource extraction,” Arnold alleged. “There are many provable data points, and I believe they paint a picture that demands the Sultan be investigated.”
He clarified that he was not declaring the Sultan guilty, but insisted that the monarch must be investigated based on available facts. “The facts demand investigation and answers to either determine his guilt or clear him of it. Let’s hear his case,” Arnold said.
He further questioned the Sultan’s silence on the estimated $9 billion worth of minerals allegedly looted annually from his hereditary lands and the lack of action against illicit mining operations. He also criticized the Sultan’s perceived inaction against militant Fulani groups, despite having once issued a fatwa against Boko Haram.
“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,” he added.
Reacting to the accusations, the Secretary of the Sultanate Council, Alhaji Saidu Maccido, dismissed the claims as baseless and unworthy of a formal response. He stated that both the Federal Government and the Nigerian Senate had previously addressed similar allegations.
“The Sultan will not bring himself down to respond to such allegations again. Responding will only make them feel important,” Maccido said.
He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to peace, unity, and national cohesion, urging the public to ignore divisive and inflammatory rhetoric.
