By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Army has dismissed viral social media reports alleging an attack on the residence of Matthew Kukah and the Sokoto Catholic Cathedral, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 8 Division, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said the report—widely circulated on Facebook—was entirely unfounded. He clarified that no such attack occurred in Sokoto State.
According to the Army, both the bishop’s residence and the cathedral remain safe, with Bishop Kukah continuing his Easter activities without disruption. The military also assured residents that adequate security measures have been put in place to guarantee a peaceful celebration during the Easter period.
Osoba added that the Army, working alongside other security agencies, remains committed to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
Similarly, the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto debunked the report, describing it as false and intended to cause panic. In a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Pascal Salifu, the Diocese explained that the video linked to the claim dates back to events following the 2022 killing of Deborah Yakubu and is unrelated to any recent incident.
The Diocese reaffirmed that the bishop’s residence, the cathedral, and the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Sokoto are safe, intact, and fully operational. It also extended Bishop Kukah’s Easter message of goodwill to residents and thanked security agencies for their swift response in addressing the misinformation.