Fake news and its sister — false alerts — spread like wildfire, igniting confusion, panic, and sometimes even violence. The recent fabricated report by Sahara Reporters, alleging that a woman named Zainab Muhammad was facing trial in Zamfara for converting to Christianity, is a shameful display of irresponsible journalism, attempt to instigate the Christian community against Islam.
This baseless story, worsened by the unauthorized use of a photo of an American citizen, Aaliyah, who according to several reliable sources has never visited Nigeria. Worse still, the false publication reflects a deliberate attempt to demonise Islam and provoke religious tension.
The Muslim News authoritatively reports that Zamfara State Government had to step in to debunk the viral misinformation. The Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, and the Grand Khadi of Zamfara State confirmed unequivocally that no such case has ever come before any court in the state. This exposes the story as an outright lie, with no basis in reality.
The most ridiculous part is that the entire report was based on an unverified Facebook post by one Moses Eskor from Akwa Ibom. Most embrassingly, Sahara Reporters and other Islamophobic media spread the news with no verification, no investigation, just reckless copy, paste, and publish mentality. This is not journalism, it is a calculated provocation designed to stir hatred and insult Islam, Muslims, and Northern Nigeria.
To serve as a deterrent to other media outlets with similar irresponsible dispositions, the Zamfara State Government, National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Muslim lawyers association should initiate legal action against the involved platforms for defamation and incitement. The Guild of Editors and relevant agencies should investigate and subsequently invoke necessary punishments on these agents of misinformation.
He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.
*Dr. Lukman Raimi, PhD, LL.M, MNIM is an entrepreneurship educator, legal researcher, and good governance advocate.
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