Headlines
Nigeria ridicules CNN investigative report on #EndSARS killings
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Nigerian federal government Thursday insisted that the military did not shoot at #EndSARS peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, reacting to a CNN investigative report on the alleged killings of peaceful protesters in Lagos, said the army who were at the scene of the protest only fired blank ammunition in the air.
Mohammed challenged anybody who knew anyone that was killed at Lekki Toll Gate to head to the Judicial Panel in Lagos with conclusive evidence of such.
He described the CNN report on the Lekki Toll Gate killings as “fake, disservice to journalism profession’’ and called for sanction against the international news organisation.
The Minister made his observation in Abuja at a media briefing on the #EndSARS protest and its aftermath.
Mohammed said the media outfit relied heavily on unverified and possibly-doctored videos, as well as information sourced from questionable sources, to reach its conclusion.
“Like everyone else, I watched the CNN report and I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going round, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organisation.
“CNN engaged in incredible sensationalism and did a great disservice to itself and to journalism.
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“In the first instance, CNN, which touted its report as an exclusive investigative report, sadly relied on the same videos that have been circulating on social media, without verification.
“This is very serious and CNN should be sanctioned for that,’’ he said.
According to the minister, the CNN reporter and cameraman were not on ground during the incident but obtained second hand information without authentication to reach its conclusion.
“CNN merely said the videos were ‘obtained by CNN’, without saying wherefrom and whether or not it authenticated them.
“Were CNN reporters and camera men at the Lekki Toll Gate that evening?
“If the answer is no, on what basis are they reporting? Relying on second or third hand information and presenting it as ‘CNN Investigation’?
“Is this what is expected from an international media organisation or any serious news organisation?
“If CNN had done its investigation properly, it would have known how fake news and disinformation were trending during the EndSARS crisis,’’ the minister fumed.
Mohammed said CNN failed to balance its story by showing the compelling testimony of Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Taiwo before the Judicial Panel in Lagos.
He said the one-sided reporting was unexpected from an international and serious media organisation like the CNN.