In a statement issued in Abuja today, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said over this weekend alone, several major cases of fake news were recorded, each of them capable of causing panic, triggering chaos or setting one group against the other.
He said a gory video of a blast that occurred many years ago is being circulated along with the false news of a bomb blast in Abuja, while news of a non-existent bomb blast in Lagos was also widely circulated, forcing the police to promptly debunk the fake news.
Mohammed also said the latest strategy being employed by the purveyors of fake news is to attribute to top government officials improbable statements that are capable of destabilizing the polity, causing tension and threatening the country's unity.
''This is why we are appealing to Nigerians not to ever engage in a knee-jerk reaction to any news, and to subject every information to a very serious scrutiny by checking with security agencies and government spokespersons,'' he said.The Minister described the fake news phenomenon as 'the scourge of our times' which will probably get worse in the months ahead, hence the need for all Nigerians to be very vigilant so that fake news purveyors do not succeed in their quest to sow the seeds of chaos and confusion.
He also appealed to the traditional media, which has a reputation to protect, to join the campaign against the purveyors of fake news, especially because the websites of many reputable media organizations are being parodied and used to spread false information in order to gain some modicum of credibility.
''On our part, we will not relent until we have exposed those who are behind this fake news phenomenon and brought them to justice,'' Alhaji Mohammed said.
31 comments:
Can someone tell this man to get out already,is this an important information to Nigerian right now???jobless comments.
Na today? Bla bla bla as usual from this people.
Please please please wtf when did fake news become a slogan for us.... this is Nigeria .
Carrier of fake news now scared of it. This is just the beginning, you will see and hear more than you expected.
Lai Mohammed is the originator of fake news from the government, so he should watch what he says.
Mr Lai...na waooh
Pot wey dey call kettle black
APC created propaganda news to discredit PDP.
PDP got Butted out and now the same strategy is been used by the opposition to declare APC govt unfit.
Lailai Mohammed should even the rhythm of the beat they started and stopped crying foul.
This is the truth o... Our media and journalism is getting worst in this country. Some people will still insult the govt for talking against this phenomenon. Look at the recent cases of Odunlade and PMB. Dem go carry fake news say person don die... I wont be surprised if Dami Krane's news is also fake.
you are very stupid.can you listen to yourself. you are probably one.those rumour mongers that are causing some tension in the country. idiot
This is a case of those who live by the sward will die by it.
What do u expect when u told Nigerians that PMB is hale and hearty while PMB himself told Nigerians that he has never been this sick before! U never chi chon chin Lair!
You guys started this fake news BS leading to the 2015 elections.
You created a monster that has broken out of your control and has come back to eat you all up.
Once you stop feeding a beast, it will devour any and everything. Both master and enemies.
#FoodForThought
Hmmmm,story for the Gods
Oh God pls save us from this man...We are really tired
Dats wat u guys in apc did to Jonathan..... Aninimaous
Oliver de coque says ,ajuju ajughi ama agbaba Onye ogbbama kwuru oburu. Ask your father if you don't understand the idiom
I,m surprise to hear this mr Lair talk of fake news while he is the fake news himself, with all duo respect sir short up , fake party , fake Government , sick president , fake and sick Country
WhatsApp messages saying Oshodi is on lockdown. With videos to show. All fake news.
They used fake news to discredit Jonathan. So this is a chain reaction.
stupid man
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HEHEHE ISSIT NOT LIE SPEAKING?
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
Lol he has not recovered from Osasu's interview he still has mouth to talk.
Putin! Lol
Federal government complains about fake news? I laugh in Chinese. APC government of misery failure and lies that send out fake news from Ukraine. Tinubu media and Buhari Media organisation Fake news fake pastorian dullardeens.
its Morocco Maduka
Dee Lie, ndaa? hw market? haba Lie, na u dey yarn dis opata? no be u be d master? Lie, as far as APC is kwancine, nothing like fake news. infact if naija pple wan report everything abt una, the world fit come to an end immediately.
wetin surprise me abt this man Lie Moha, be say d man dey lie and upon dat still dey ask naija pple weda him dey lie. Dee Lie, take am easy o!
But seriously really? Do these think we are stupid or what? Is this the same people that lied their way into power, they forget whatever a man soweth, that will he also reap
Why won't there be spread of fake news when our minister of information himself is a liar.
Why won't there be spread of fake news when our minister of information himself is a liar.
Why won't there be spread of fake news when our minister of information himself is a liar.
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