Edo Faults Alleged herdsmen attacks on Buses and Travellers
The Edo State Government has advised residents in the state to be wary of the deluge of fake news of alleged herdsmen attacks trending on the internet and circulated by people we know too well.
The Nigerian Police have also stated that the alleged attack by herdsmen along Lagos/Ibadan expressway is false, baseless, and “lie from pit of hell fire.”
Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said “the false alarm originated with some disgruntled individuals.”
He explained that while the state government will not deny the skirmishes between herdsmen and farmers in part of the state, the recent propagation of fake news on social media is part of a plot to create a general sense of insecurity in the state and an attempt to put the current administration in bad light.
The Aide said “our investigation into the veracity of some audio messages about attacks on passengers in buses owned by God Is Good Motors and other vehicles, trending on the internet, showed that the story is not true as the management of the transport service debunked the claim, describing it as completely false. These are some of the shenanigans of these unholy group of people.
“Also, the photograph of dead people on the road allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen has been trending on the internet since Tuesday. That photograph first hit the internet in 2010. It is pure mischief to circulate the 2010 photograph as an incident that happened yesterday. On the strength of the falsehood the promoters of the photograph set out to achieve, we have reasons to suspect similar internet content.
“One newspaper report said the photograph is of an armed robbery incident that happened in 2010. The newspaper account said that a bus driver was forced by the robbers to run some passengers over because the passengers did not give the robbers money.
“Edo people should be circumspect and cross-check any media content thrown at them on the internet as the people behind the campaign to de-market Edo State are people we know too well. They will stop at nothing in their desperation to advance reasons for them to return to power and plunder the people’s resources. Edo people should beware of false alarms by these unpatriotic elements,” he advised.
He assured that no campaign of calumny by these un-progressive elements can stop the ongoing redemption efforts of the Obaseki-led government after the blighted years of these enemies of Edo State.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command in a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the security alert being broadcasted on social media, especially on WhatsApp, is false and baseless.
He said: “The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been once again drawn to an alleged attack by herdsmen along Lagos/Ibadan expressway as well as an anonymous security alert letter written by a faceless student group urging students and members of public not to travel along that route. The faceless group also posted a simulated voice recording on social media where some people are crying and pleading with their alleged attackers not to kill them.
“The Command wouldn’t have dignify the disgruntled elements with a response but in order to allay the fears of public, the true security situation along that axis has to be made known to all and sundry.
“To start with, there is no any attack by herdsmen or any other group in all the stretch of Express Ways across and within Ogun State, we make bold to say that the alleged attack been posted on social media is a lie from pit of hell fire been peddled by those who are not happy with the peaceful atmosphere in Ogun State. The picture attached to the post is a picture of an accident which occurred about Eight years ago exactly on the 31st of July 2010 to be precised; while the purported voice recording was a stage managed one.
“The Lagos/Ibadan express road is one of the busiest roads in Nigeria and the Command is not oblivious of that fact, for that reason, there has been massive deployment of Police operatives from FSARS, Anti-Kidnapping/cultist unit, PMF as well as Conventional Policemen on surveillance and monitoring operatives and patrols to ward off any act of criminal activities on that road.
“In as much as there is freedom of speech as guaranteed by the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, such freedom does not licensed anybody to be peddling dangerous rumours that can cause breach of public peace. In view of that, the Command is investigating those behind the senseless rumour with the view of bringing them to justice as they can be best described as enemy of the State.
“We hereby enjoined the good and peace loving people of the State to discountenance the rumour and go about their lawful businesses without any fear of harassment or attack from anybody or group. Any suspicious movement or gathering should be reported to the Police and other sister security agencies as quick as possible and quick and adequate response will be accorded such report.”
By PRNigeria
