CNN Switching Lekki Toll Gate Casualty Figures So Casually Is Worrisome – FG

The Federal government has promised to punish the Cable Network News, CNN for carrying out unverified information from the controversial Lekki Toll Gate incident.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed recently revealed this at a stakeholder’s meeting with the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) held in Abuja.

According to him, the government will not spare any media organization, both local and international, that tried to set Nigeria on fire via unverifiable reportage.

He added that it is very worrisome that an international broadcaster like CNN will switch casualty figures so casually without a credible source.

His words, “The use of unverified videos, and the non-adherence to the basic tenets of journalism have combined to land the international broadcaster, CNN, in trouble”, saying that the station had been caught in the web of fake news and disinformation, after it relied heavily on videos it took from social media for a supposed exclusive investigation on the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th.”

“After tweeting, without a shred of evidence, from its verified handle on Oct. 23rd that soldier killed 38 peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th, the same station now said only one person was killed – after a month of its investigation.”

“It is baffling that an organization like CNN will rely on unauthenticated videos to carry out an investigation

“More worrisome is that an international broadcaster like CNN will switch casualty figures so casually without a credible source. This is why we have written a letter to CNN asking it to use its own internal mechanism to probe its investigation.

“We have received an acknowledgement of our letter, saying the letter has been referred to CNN’s Editorial Team.”

“We will not sit by and allow any news organization, local or foreign, to set Nigeria on fire with irresponsible and unprofessional reporting.

“CNN did not have a reporter or cameraman at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night in question, yet it emphatically reported a hoax story.”