The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the weekend, blamed increasing electoral violence on fake news, and said the menace posed grave danger to the democratic process and military operations.
Buratai spoke in Bayelsa State when he led military commanders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to inaugurate projects at the new 16th Division Barracks, named Camp Buratai.
He said prior to the general election, he launched Operation Safe Conduct to ensure success at the poll and established the Nigerian Army Situation Room (NASR) to manage electoral events, including stopping spread of fake news.
Buratai, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Adamu Saliu, commander of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), noted that terrorists and subversive elements were spreading fake news using the social media to influence public sentiment, cause confusion and ignite violence.
The COAS said: “Just before the presidential and National Assembly elections, I launched the Nigerian Army Situation Room for real time managing of events during the 2019 general election.
“This decision was borne out of our previous unpalatable experience occasioned by electoral violence, which had now been made worse by fake news. At this point it cannot be overstated that fake news and false propaganda pose a dangerous threat to both democratic process and military operations.
“Use of media, especially social media, to deliberately spread fake news should be a thing of concern to all of us. Rapid spread of fake news had been responsible for misinformation, thereby having an influence on public sentiment and sowing confusion among the electorate and easily ignite violence during elections as we have now.
Leave a Reply