BY AHMED ATTAHIR, GUSAU – Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has cautioned media practitioners to avoid spreading fake news, saying it destructive capacity is beyond imagination.
The Governor gave the warning while speaking at the first pre-election lecture at the weekend on the topic ‘Effect of Fake News on Security’; an event organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara State Council for the chapel’s 2021 elections held today in the State.
The governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security, DIG Mamman Tsafe (Rtd) described fake news as a lethal bomb that can destroy beyond imagination and therefore call on media practitioners to avoid spreading fake news the development of the society.
“Fake news is a bad omen for the society which must be avoided by media in order not to cause confusion and violence in the society.
“Fake news is one of the aggravators of the current insecurity being faced in Zamfara state and other parts of Nigeria and indeed the world at large.
“I implore you as trained journalists not to start or share news items which is not verified as such news might be fake and this can lead to loss of lives and property of the people,” he warned.
The Dean Student Affairs, Federal University, Gusau, Professor Muhammad Lawal Mayanchi, described fake news as false, misconceived and misleading information tendered as news which In most cases is used as deceptive tactics to cover falsehood.
He added that fake news are at most times invigorated, spread or enforce by tribal, religious and territorial forces or affiliation to cause political or security havoc.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel Election Committee, Comrade Ibrahim Kanoma, said the pre-election lecture was to educate journalists and the public about the dangers of fake news, particularly on security.
