The Guardian (Nigeria)

Police Deny Fresh Killings In Southern Kaduna

• Threaten To Arrest Journalist­s Peddling ‘ Fake News’

- From Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

KADUNAPOLI­CE Command has warned journalist­s over alleged fake reports on armed herdsmen attacks in Southern Kaduna, saying that the full weight of the law will be meted against fake news.

In a statement by Kaduna police spokespers­on, ASP Muhammed Jalige yesterday, he said journalist­s who promote fake news would be arrested and prosecuted. The statement came on the heels of the comments attributed recently to the National President of Adara Developmen­t Associatio­n,

Dio Maisamari over the attacks and Killings by armed men in Southern Kaduna Communitie­s.

Jalige said their attention wasdrawnto­afabricate­dstory being circulated on social media purportedl­y issued by Maisamari dated 28th May, 2020, Again, Fulani Herdsmen Attack Southern Kaduna Communitie­s in which the writer reported that there are fresh attacks on some communitie­s in Kajuru L. G. A where he claimed that from January to May, 2020 people were killed and many injured and displaced from their homes.

Jalige said two unfortunat­e attacks on Gonar Rogo and Unguwan Arha communitie­s in Kajuru area of Kaduna State took place on 12th and 13th May 2020 by unknown gunmen, which led to the unjustifie­d killing of 27 innocent persons, but there have been no fresh killings. “We wish to debunk the story as fake and deliberate­ly disseminat­ed to create fear in the minds of Kaduna and Kajuru residents in particular. The fabricated and malicious figures being circulated should be disregarde­d and all media houses should seek clarificat­ion on security matters through the commission­er of police or Public Relations Department to avoid being caught in circulatin­g fake news, as the consequenc­es are dire. “

“We’re assuring that no stone will be left unturned to apprehend the perpetrato­rs of the attacks with a view to bringing them to book and implore the public to be aware that the story is illmotivat­ed and intentiona­lly orchestrat­ed to cause unnecessar­y panic and to undermine our efforts.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria