The Anambra State Government has firmly denied any herdsmen attack in its environment.
The government recently vowed to prosecute anybody caught spreading fake news through the circulation of false audio and video messages on social media platforms.
Speaking via a press statement, the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, said that the state is currently leveraging advanced technology to track down the perpetrators of such false news.
According to him, the clip with a voice note alleging that Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Umuchu, killing several people, is absolutely fake, because an investigation has proven that no such incident happened in Umuchu or anywhere in Anambra.
He stressed that Anambra State will not hesitate to take decisive action against those spreading falsehood, including prosecution in line with the provisions of the cybercrime laws.
“It has come to the attention of the Anambra State Government that certain mischievous and malicious individuals are circulating false audio and video messages on social media platforms, claiming to show incidents of insecurity in the state.
The latest example is a video with a voice note alleging that Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Umuchu, killing several people. After investigations, the claim was discovered to be completely false, as no such incident occurred in Umuchu or anywhere in Anambra State, and Fulani herdsmen were not involved in any such attack.
However, the actual incident depicted in the video occurred in another state. This is viewed as nothing short of propaganda from the pit of hell, orchestrated by individuals seeking to promote insecurity in Anambra State for reasons best known to them.
Some old videos, many of which never originated from Anambra, are also rebranded, depicting recent insecurity in the state,” he said.
Law Mefor, further, warned that the state government will no longer tolerate attempts to undermine the peace and security of the state.
He concluded by saying that anyone caught lying about the state of security in Anambra will be visited with the full wrath of the law henceforth.
“Meanwhile, the state is leveraging advanced technology to track down the originators of such fake news and will not hesitate to take decisive action, including prosecution in line with the express provisions of the cybercrime laws.
So, let it be known that perpetrators of fake news will henceforth be arrested and visited with the full wrath of the law,” he added.
