Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria, dismisses claims of attack on cathedral

Vatican News

The Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria, has published an official disclaimer dismissing the claim that the bishop’s residence, cathedral and pastoral center of the Diocese were attacked.

The statement, signed by the Director of Communications, Fr. Pascal Salifu, described a false news video that went viral. The diocesan statement clarified that all the facilities are safe, intact, and fully operational and that these claims are completely false.

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has repeatedly emphasized how disinformation is used to divide the country. The appeal, therefore, is to always verify news in order not to spread fake news that can trigger anger and indiscriminate violence.

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The fake news clarification followed instead a true news story from last Palm Sunday when there was an attack in Jos—a city far from Sokoto—where 27 people were killed. In an interview with Vatican News published on April 4, the Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, recounted the importance of maintaining an attitude of hope in the midst of the ongoing violence in the country. At the same time he condemned the attacks and encouraged people not to “succumb to fear but instead trust in God and remain steadfast.”