Lai Mohammed says fake news worsened EndSARS crisis
Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said fake news and disinformation played a major role in worsening the #EndSARS crisis, describing the episode as an example of how misinformation can inflame an already volatile situation.
Speaking at a forum at London School of Economics and Political Science on Friday, Mohammed said the protests began as a genuine expression of anger over police brutality but were later hijacked and intensified by the spread of false and unverified reports.
“The problem we had was not the usual communication gap between the government and the citizens. It was fake news and disinformation, coupled with unbridled violence,” he said.
He added that tensions escalated after troops were deployed to Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to disperse protesters.
“That’s when fake news and disinformation escalated,” he said.
Mohammed also criticised CNN, accusing the international broadcaster of relying on unverified and, in some cases, doctored content during its coverage of the protests.
“What we saw during EndSARS was the dangerous power of disinformation in real time,” he said, adding that the experience showed the need for stronger fact-checking systems and greater media responsibility.
On the COVID-19 pandemic, the former minister said Nigeria developed its own communication strategy because there was no global model available when the outbreak began.
