Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff
Former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has firmly denied ever accusing Vice President Kashim Shettima of founding or supporting the Boko Haram insurgency.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, titled “A Lie Taken Too Far: Shettima, Ali Modu Sheriff Are Not on War Path,” the former governor dismissed the viral publication as “false, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead Nigerians.”
According to Sheriff, the report was completely baseless and designed to sow unnecessary discord.
> “The publication is a complete fabrication, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign the person of Sen. Sheriff, and sow discord within the nation’s political landscape,” he said.
The senator stressed that at no point did he grant any interview or make any comment linking the Vice President to Boko Haram.
> “I wish to state unequivocally that at no time did I grant any interview or engage with any journalist on the said date or on any matter remotely related to the spurious claims contained in the publication,” he clarified.
Sheriff described the story as a reckless piece of fake news intended to undermine his decades-long contributions to peace, unity, and development both in Borno State and across the country.
He reiterated his commitment to national security and stability, condemning those spreading falsehoods for political or personal gain.
> “Members of the public and the media are therefore urged to disregard this concocted story in its entirety and desist from further sharing or amplifying it,” he said.
The former governor added that his legal team had been instructed to identify and take action against all individuals, bloggers, or media outlets involved in publishing or circulating the defamatory material.
> “Should the false publication not be retracted and taken down forthwith, I will not hesitate to seek full legal redress under the law,” he warned.
Sheriff reaffirmed his dedication to truth and accountability, noting that he would pursue justice to ensure such misinformation does not go unpunished.
His clarification comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly criticized President Bola Tinubu led administration, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to tackle rising insecurity and terrorism across the country.
Trump’s comments have reignited global attention on Nigeria’s security situation, particularly the persistent allegations of genocide and targeted killings of Christians in parts of the country’s North and Middle Belt. International human rights organizations and faith-based groups have repeatedly raised concerns over what they describe as systematic attacks on Christian communities by armed groups believed to be linked to Islamist extremists.
Reports from advocacy groups suggest that hundreds of villages have been destroyed and thousands of worshippers displaced in recent years. These attacks, often carried out by insurgents and bandits, have fueled growing fears of religious persecution and deepened calls for the Nigerian government to intensify efforts in protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring justice for victims.
Observers note that the renewed global scrutiny places additional pressure on the federal government to demonstrate firm action against terrorism, sectarian violence, and all forms of extremism.
Sheriff’s statement, therefore, comes at a sensitive time — seeking to distance himself from any narrative that could inflame religious or political tensions amid mounting international concern over Nigeria’s human rights and security record.
