NO doubt, insecurity has taken its toll on Nigeria, even as government and security forces continue to do everything possible to bring it under control and, possibly, stamp it out. It is also noteworthy that security is the collective responsibility of all and sundry, and all possible means should be deployed to tackle the hydra-headed monster of insecurity bedeviling our nation.
HOWEVER, THE HOPE notes with dismay the use of the social media to undermine the efforts of government and the security forces to curb the menace of insecurity by peddling wrong and misleading information which end up creating fear in the minds of the audience.
IN recent times, the media space have been awash with reports of bandit invasions in communities which turn out not only to be false, but cause unnecessary panic in the hearts of members of the public.
A classic case was the security scare that took place in Akure early in June, when some unknown persons, making use of the social media, spread a rumour that bandits had invaded a notable secondary school in the town.
The rumour spread with the speed of light and parents across the town started rushing to their children’s schools to pick them. Within a very short period, schools were full of mammoth crowds – parents who had come to pick their children. There was panic everywhere. Swiftly, the state government, police and other law enforcement agencies debunked the rumour and reassured the public that all schools in the state capital were safe.
THE HOPE notes that this is fast becoming a trend in Nigeria. For example, early in June, the Oyo State Police Command arrested two suspects over an alleged deliberate circulation of false information claiming that “bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government area and killed six persons.” The Command stated that the rumour was spread through a viral voice note on WhatsApp and other social media platforms and it triggered panic among residents before it was confirmed to be false.
SHORTLY afterwards, there was another false claim of bandit attack at a secondary school complex in Ojokoro, Lagos State, but it was debunked by the state government. The scare was said to have been triggered during a recreational exercise in a school meant to enlighten students on kidnapping and banditry. The sight of the exercise reportedly triggered panic among some people who witnessed it, and the rumour spread rapidly.
EARLIER in May, the Oyo State Police Command had dismissed reports of an alleged bandit attack in Ogbomoso and adjoining communities, describing the incident as a false alarm fuelled by misinformation and unverified claims circulated among residents and students.
ACCORDING to the police, panic had erupted across parts of Ogbomoso and nearby communities, including Ajaawa Town, following rumours that suspected armed bandits had invaded the area and attacked the vicinity of a secondary school in that axis.
POLICE investigation revealed that the alarm began after some students reported sighting unfamiliar individuals behind the school fence. The report, according to the police, created suspicion among teachers and students within the school premises, eventually escalating into widespread panic after unverified information spread to neighbouring schools and communities.
THE HOPE calls on members of the public to avoid sharing unverified information about security or banditry on the social media. While security is everybody’s business and the onus is on members of the public to share useful information with law enforcement agencies about security, we appeal to Nigerians to avoid sharing false and unverified information. We urge members of the public to always check the credibility of the source of any security-related information that emanates from the social media before sharing.
AT the same time, THE HOPE calls on the government to impose stiffer sanctions on people who spread false information as deterrence to others. Specifically, the police should ensure that cases of security threat are well investigated with the perpetrators arrested to be punished accordingly.
WE also urged law enforcement agencies not to relent in their efforts to crush banditry, kidnapping and other security threats currently facing the country. At the same time, government at all levels should continue to give security personnel all the push and boost needed to address insecurity effectively.