EndSARS: We won’t allow reckless use of social media, FG vows
- Lai Mohammed said the federal government will not sit down and allow reckless abuse of social media
- The senior minister said the platform almost plunged the country into "turmoil" after being used for "fake news and disinformation"
- Lai also described as "hoax massacre" the shooting of peaceful and unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate by the security operatives
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The federal government has again said it is totally committed to preventing social media from plunging the country into beldam.
Speaking on Friday, December 4, minister of culture and information, Lai Mohammed, made this known, saying “reckless use” of the social media has created an avenue for "fake news and disinformation."
According to the minister, the violence and wanton destruction which characterised the recent EndSARS protest were as a result of social media abuse which "specifically posed a danger" to the peace of the country.
Source: Facebook
Mohammed further explained that social media was used for mobilisation, and it was also used to guide arsonists and looters to properties, both public and private, which were targeted for attack."
He said the federal government will not sit down and "allow a reckless use of social media to aggravate our fault lines and throw the country into turmoil."
“Our fears about the abuse of social media, and specifically the dangers posed by fake news and disinformation, have come to pass. During the protest and the subsequent violence, fake news and disinformation were the order of the day.
“Celebrities who were listed as killed at Lekki quickly dispelled the report of their deaths. Discerning Nigerians exposed the fact that pictures of some non-Nigerians were used to justify the hoax massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate."
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Earlier, Legit.ng hat reported that federal government on Thursday, November 19, made a defence against the CNN report on the Lekki shooting, insisting that no "massacre" occurred as "irresponsibly" peddled on the social media.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Mohammed, made this known as he cleared the air amid fresh controversies generated by the CNN report on the EndSARS protest.
The information minister threatened that the federal government will not hesitate to sanction the foreign media for what he termed "irresponsible journalism.”
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Source: Legit.ng
