Former U.S. Mayor Mike Arnold has publicly accused the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, of failing to curb jihadist violence in northern Nigeria, calling for a formal inquiry.
In a widely shared open letter on social media, Arnold questioned the Sultan’s previous tenure as Nigeria’s Defence Attaché in Pakistan, suggesting a link between his diplomatic service and the rise of jihadist tactics in his caliphate after 2006. The Sultan held the attaché post from 2003 to 2006 and was also accredited to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan.
Arnold asked, “How do you explain the sudden appearance of global jihadist tactics in your caliphate after your return from Pakistan? Why have there been no fatwas condemning these killings? What steps have you taken to safeguard your people?”
He further alleged that territories under the Sokoto Caliphate were losing more than $9 billion annually in mineral resources and warned that international criminal investigations could follow if the Sultan did not act.
Responding through its secretary, Alhaji Saidu Maccido, the Sokoto Sultanate Council dismissed the claims. “The Sultan will not dignify these allegations with another response,” Maccido said. “The Federal Government has addressed the issue, and the Nigerian Senate passed a resolution on it. Engaging further only amplifies baseless claims.”
The council stressed that the Sultanate remains committed to promoting peace, unity, and national stability, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives.
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