Inside a quiet hall in Sokoto, dozens of Islamic clerics sat side by side, their phones and notebooks open, listening closely as they learned how a single fake video or voice message could ignite fear, division or even violence.
For many of them, this two-day workshop was their first direct encounter with the hidden world of artificial intelligence, deep fakes and digital manipulation.
The training, Organized by Alkalanci a Hausa-language fact-checking and media literacy organisation dedicated to combating fake news, misinformation, disinformation and mal-information in collaboration with the Sokoto State Ministry of Religious Affairs, brought together religious leaders from across Sokoto State and neighbouring Niger Republic who joined online.
Their mission was simple but urgent: to understand how false information spreads and how they can protect their communities from being misled.
Opening the session, Alkalanci Editor Alhassan Bala reminded participants that they stand at the heart of society.
“Your words reach millions. People trust you. That trust carries responsibility,” he told the clerics.
With Nigeria approaching another election season, Bala warned that false information is likely to increase, fuelled by political interests and foreign interference. He explained that artificial intelligence has made fake images, videos and audio recordings so realistic that even educated people struggle to tell the difference.
“In minutes, a rumour can reach thousands. Unfortunately, much of what circulates today is divisive or harmful. That is why we must learn to pause, verify and guide others to do the same,” he said.
Some clerics nodded quietly. Others exchanged concerned glances.
Many admitted they had unknowingly shared misleading messages in the past—not out of malice, but because they trusted the source.
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Associate Professor Jabir Mai Hula, described misinformation as a silent security threat.
“Misinformation today is deliberate. It is designed to provoke fear and hatred. When religious leaders are not equipped to recognize these tactics, they can unknowingly become channels for instability,” he said.
He explained that the training was created as a preventive measure—teaching clerics how to question digital content, challenge harmful narratives and encourage peaceful coexistence.
“Peace begins with knowledge. Once clerics understand how false stories are manufactured, they are better prepared to protect their people,” he added.
Also addressing participants, the Commissioner for Innovation and Digital Economy, Bashar Umar Kwabo, warned that respected religious leaders are often targeted precisely because of their influence at the grassroots.
“What you say can calm a community or inflame it,” he told them. “By training you, we are strengthening the first line of defence against conflict.”
Kwabo noted that Sokoto State has stepped up media literacy campaigns and public awareness efforts, with early signs showing a reduction in digital-related abuses.
Beyond lectures, participants were introduced to simple tools for verifying images, videos and messages. They practiced h9questioning sources and learned how to spot manipulation—skills they are expected to take back to their mosques and study circles.
Bala revealed that the programme began in Kano last year and has now expanded to Sokoto, with plans to reach other states. The goal, he said, is to build a network of informed religious leaders who can stop falsehood at its roots, especially in communities where Hausa remains the primary language of communication.
As the session drew to a close, gratitude was extended to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III (represented), state commissioners, the Sarkin Malamai, facilitators, media professionals and the clerics themselves.
But for many participants, the takeaway was personal.
In a world where truth is increasingly blurred by technology, they left with a renewed sense of duty not just to preach faith, but to protect facts.
