Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says US-based media giant, CNN, should be sanctioned for “irresponsible reporting.”
He was reacting to the broadcaster’s investigative report on the October 20 shooting at Lekki Toll Plaza.
Men of the Nigerian Army had fired bullets at the plaza where peaceful protesters gathered. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed that the incident led to the death of two unidentified persons.
The army denied firing live bullets at the protesters, saying it only fired blank bullets into the air to disperse the protesters.
But the CNN refuted the claim, reporting that live bullets were indeed fired at protesters. It traced one of the bullets to Serbia where it was allegedly bought by the military.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mohammed described the report as one-dimensional and lacking in balance.
He said the report should earn CNN sanctions because it “relied heavily” on “unverified” and “possibly doctored” videos.
He also alleged that the media outfit sourced information from “questionable sources” to reach its conclusions.
The minister insisted that the military fired blank bullets into the air and not at the crowd, noting that he has no reason to doubt Brig. Gen. Ahmed who testified before the Lagos State Judicial Panel investigating the incident.
Mohammed rubbished the claim of a massacre, describing it as “a massacre without bodies or blood.”
He urged persons who have alleged a massacre, as well as relatives with missing family members, to report at the judicial panel to lay official complaints.
The minister also said the CNN report “conveniently excluded” the looting, violence by citizens, 269 private facilities burnt and looted, 243 government facilities vandalised.
Mohammed added that security agents deserve commendation, not condemnation.
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