Lagos Council chairman warns against fake news, cracks down on scavenger activities
The Chairman of Alimosho Local Government in Lagos State, Akinpelu Johnson, has expressed gratitude to the security agencies, and other security stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful and hitch-free Eid-ul-Kabir celebration across the council area.
Speaking during the monthly Peace and Security Meeting, the chairman also raised concerns over the increasing spread of fake news and false security alarms, describing the trend as a serious threat to public safety and social harmony.
According to Akinpelu, some individuals have developed the habit of circulating misleading information and old videos of violent incidents from other countries or previous years, falsely portraying them as current events in order to create fear and panic among residents.
“It is becoming a disturbing trend for some people to raise false alarms by sharing unverified and misleading information, especially videos of incidents that occurred years ago or in other countries, and presenting them as recent events. This act is irresponsible, dangerous, and capable of causing unnecessary panic,” he said.
The chairman called on Community Development Associations (CDAs), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the League of Imams to sensitise their members and discourage the culture of forwarding messages without proper verification, urging the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify public enlightenment campaigns against the spread of misinformation.
“Fake information has triggered communal and tribal conflicts in some places. We must nip this menace in the bud. The Police and other relevant agencies should strengthen efforts to curb the spread of false information,” he added.
Akinpelu further reiterated concerns over the activities of scavengers operating within communities, noting that some have been linked to criminal activities.
He urged residents and community leaders to deny them access to their neighbourhoods, stressing that their services are no longer necessary due to the presence of licensed Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators.
