*Concerned about media fake news
*Says matter merely of stray cow
*Declares fake news as an offence
*Warns peddler to stop or face the law
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“It is an offence for anybody to originate or help in circulating fake news, the command will therefore, henceforth be tracing and fishing out those deliberately dishing out fake information to members of the public especially the one that cause panic in the mind of innocent people.”
In what appears to be season of revelations that not only Fulani but other tribesmen own cows in Nigeria, report by the Ogun State Police Command Wednesday showed that the cows found on the compound of Professor Wole Soyinka at Kemta, Abeokuta were owned not by Fulani but Yoruba man.
This was contained in a statement with reference no: AZ:5310/OGS/PRO/VOL.6/226 and dated 10/02/2021 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER Wednesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi.
It will be recalled that Islamic rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had in an earlier report by this medium revealed that Yoruba, not Fulani man, was owner of the cows found on the compound of Soyinka, this asking that authorities should register cows owners for accountability.
The police statement was coming on the heels of a video circulating on social media about attack on the Nobel Laureate’s house purportedly by Fulani herdersmen and responding to which the command moved to set the record straight.
According to the PPRO, “Yesterday Tuesday 9th of February 2021, one Kazeem Sorinola an indegine of ijeun Abeokuta who is into cattle business said to have been informed by a young fulani man Awalu Muhammad who is taking care of the cattle that one of the cows had got missing.
“While the Fulani man was searching for the stray cow around kemta estate where the Prof Wole soyinka’s house is located, the Prof. himself who was going out then saw the fulani man with some of the cows and he came down to ask where the man was heading to with the cows. He there and then asked the fulani man to move the cattle away from the vicinity.”
DSP Oyeyemi continued, “The DPO Kemta division, who heard about the incident quickly moved to the scene with patrol team and the owner of the cows was invited to come with the Fulani man in charge of the cattle.
“The duo were questioned and properly profiled. The entire place was inspected by the DPO and it was established that it was just a case of stray cow as nothing was damaged or tampered with.
“It was therefore a thing of surprise to see a video trending on social media that the respected Professor wole soyinka’s house was invaded by Fulani herdersmen with the view to attack or kill him.”
The Ogun State Police Command expressed surprise that some handlers of the media would trend fake news twisting and slanting the truth of occurrences cause panic in the mind of the people.
“The video is nothing but a calculated attempt by mischief makers to cause panic in the mind of people. There is nothing like invasion of Prof Wole soyinka’s house or any form of attack on his person.
“The commissioner of police CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun has been to the scene for on the spot assessment, and he personally interviewed the owner of the cattle Kazeem Sorinola, as well as the Fulani man who is in charge of the cattle and their statements show clearly that the mischievous narrative of invation is nothing to take serious.
“The command hereby wishes to warn the fake news peddler to desist from it as they may be made to feel the weight of the law.
“It is an offence for anybody to originate or help in circulating fake news, the command will therefore, henceforth be tracing and fishing out those deliberately dishing out fake information to members of the public especially the one that cause panic in the mind of innocent people,” the statement said.
Touche. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the amazing spirit.