How sensational headlines influenced public perception during #EndSARS — Lai Mohammed
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has attributed the controversy surrounding the #EndSARS protests to sensational and misleading media headlines, arguing that exaggerated reporting significantly shaped public perception of the events.
He made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja during a public reading of his new book, Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined An Administration, held at Roving Heights bookstore.
Speaking at the event, Mohammed said the power of headlines has grown in the digital age, where many citizens rely solely on brief captions and social media snippets rather than full reports to form opinions.
According to him, shrinking attention spans and the rise of online media platforms have created a culture in which readers often draw conclusions without engaging the full context of a story.
Referring to coverage of the #EndSARS protests, Mohammed argued that headlines published after security forces dispersed protesters intensified public outrage and confusion. He cited reports that described the incident as a “massacre at the toll gate,” noting that casualty figures varied widely across different outlets.
He criticised what he described as the widespread sharing of unverified information, particularly on social media, saying that many users circulate stories without fact-checking.
While acknowledging that headlines are a vital part of journalism, the former minister maintained that they can distort reality if not properly contextualised. He urged both media practitioners and the public to prioritise accuracy and verification over sensationalism.
Mohammed also renewed his call for the regulation of social media platforms, arguing that oversight is necessary to protect public well-being rather than to silence dissent. He likened regulation to safety mechanisms in automobiles, saying that just as vehicles have brakes to prevent accidents, social media requires safeguards to prevent harm.
