Kaduna Police 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 was drawn to a fabricated story 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 ill-motivated and intentionally orchestrated to cause unnecessary panic and to undermine our efforts.”
