Minister of Information and Culture, Lai mohammed
The Federal Government has continue to insists there was no killing of ant #endSARs protesters at the Lekki Toll gate on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, contrary to reports by local and international news outlets. The government on Thursday insisted that there was no massacre when soldiers dispersed #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos on October 20, 2020 as Nigerians and the international community are being made to believe.
According to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the testimony by Brig.-Gen, Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo of the Nigerian Army at the Lagos Judicial Panel punctured the prevailing story that the army shot and killed protesters on that day. He said the panel had the mandate to unravel what actually transpired at the event, while describing reports on the event as ‘fake news’.
His news conference is coming on the heels of an expose by US-based media, Cable News Network (CNN), in which they published a video, allegedly showing Nigerian soldiers shooting at unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate, based on video evidence from mobile phones of witnesses.
He said, “Sadly, the purveyors of fake news and disinformation succeeded in deceiving the world that indeed there was mass killing in Lekki, even when, till date, not a single body has been produced and not a single family or relative has come out to say their child or ward was killed at Lekki. More surprising and irresponsible is the fact that some people have been calling for sanctions against Nigeria or against Nigerian government officials on the basis of a hoax.
“This is one of the dangers of fake news and disinformation. Once fake news is out, many run with it, without looking back, even when the truth is eventually revealed. We therefore want to use this opportunity to ask those who have alleged massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate to go to the Judicial Panel to present their evidence(s) to the world or simply admit that they have goofed.
“Some have tagged it ‘social media massacre.’ The testimony of Brig.-Gen, Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo of the Nigerian Army before the panel was compelling, and I am sure many of you have listened to or watched it.”
The Minister said that those who were reporting that there was an alleged massacre at the Tollgate have only succeeded in misleading the world.
He disclosed that the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC was justified in sanctioning three stations over the events, adding that two out of the sanctioned station has paid their three million Naira in full, while the third has paid half and pleaded for more time to pay the remainder.
“The sanctions imposed on some broadcast media organizations by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are justified, in view of the unprofessional acts of the organizations which were in clear breach of the Broadcasting Code, as stated by the Commission. It is also imperative for the traditional media to authenticate information from the social media before pushing such to the public. Had the NBC wielded the big stick, some broadcast media organizations would have faced more severe sanctions than mere fines,” he said.
On CNN report, he said: “Like everyone else, I watched the CNN report. I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going round, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organization. CNN engaged in incredible sensationalism and did a great disservice to itself and to journalism.
“In the first instance, CNN, which touted its report as an exclusive investigative report, sadly relied on the same videos that have been circulating on social media, without verification. This is very serious and CNN should be sanctioned for that. CNN merely said the videos were ”obtained by CNN”, without saying wherefrom and whether or not it authenticated them. Were CNN reporters and cameramen at the Lekki Toll Gate that evening?
“If the answer is no, on what basis were they reporting? Relying on second or third hand information and presenting it as ”CNN Investigation”? Why didn’t the CNN balance its story by showing the compelling testimony of Brig.-Gen. Taiwo before the Judicial Panel in Lagos? Is this one-sided reporting what is expected from an international media organization or any serious news organization? If CNN had done its investigation properly, it would have known how fake news and disinformation were trending during the EndSARS crisis.CNN that was not at the scene reported otherwise.”
