By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called for the immediate probe of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, following allegations linking him with the extremist groups.

News Express reports that former Mayor of Blanco, Texas, United States, Mr. Mike Arnold, had accused the Sultan over his comments dismissing claims of genocide against Christians in Northern Nigeria.

Arnold had also accused the Sultan of being complicit in violence against Christians, and called on him to prove his innocence regarding the alleged claims.

The former US Mayor alleged that Alhaji Sa'ad had links to extremist groups and bears responsibility for the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

While making demand for the probe of the Sultan, MASSOB said Friday in a statement: "The Sultan of Sokoto had recently alleged that Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully in North for centuries describing the allegations of religious killings in Nigeria as misleading and divisive.

"Our position on Christian genocide in Nigeria still remains, in line with that of Senator Ted Cruz, and the former United States Mayor, Mike Arnold.

"We are calling on relevant security agencies in Nigeria to probe the allegations linking Sultan of Sokoto with extremists."

In the press release signed by MASSOB's Director of Information/Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Mazi Chris Mocha, the group further pleaded with the Donald Trump administration to impose tougher sanctions on Nigeria over the Christian genocide in Nigeria. "If the powerful Soviet Union could be divided into 15 Independent, Sovereign States, what would stop the United States President, Donald Trump from dividing Nigeria into 6 Independent, Sovereign countries," the separatist group said.