The Lagos State Police Command has stated that the its main challenge is combating fake news, which is aided by social media.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, said this on Tuesday while featuring in an interview session on the National Television Authority, monitored by our correspondent.
According to Hundeyin, the police will continue to be on alert to douse any tension in Lagos.
He said, “The major plague we are fighting now is the issue of fake news. And people just take what happens elsewhere and make it seem like something recent.
“For instance, people started sharing a video yesterday about Ladipo market when it got burnt last year. They are claiming that it is ongoing; that people had set fire to Ladipo market, but that is total fake news.
“There was also a video in which some supporters of a political party had barricaded the road along Allen Avenue and were not allowing people to pass because they were protesting the process of the election results collation, and that too was an old video.”
“So, the major thing we are battling with is fake news and people trying to whip up sentiment, giving events tribal and political colouration.”
The police spokesman, however, said Lagos remained safe for all residents.
“Our men are all over the state. We are keeping our ears to the ground,” he said.
Just this morning we got information that some people were trying to foment trouble in the Yaba area; we went there and everything is calm now,” he said.
He advised the residents to be wary of fake news and to be careful of what they share on social media.
