The Center For Peace and Conflict Resolution, CPCR has blamed the ongoing EndSARS protest over the raise of fake News in Nigeria, saying majority of information on social media are unverified and misleading.
CPCR also dismissed the reports that Nigerians soldiers opened fire on EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate area of Lagos on Tuesday night.
Director of CPCR, Dr Festus Farinu in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Lagos, said it is quite unfortunate that majority of information dished out during the protest are very far from the truth.
Farinu said no prove has been presented to justify the facts being claimed by some media houses including new and conventional media as to the event that unfolded at the Lekki Toll Gate.
He also maintained that scores of protesters who had earlier been reported shot dead later came out alive to debunk their death rumors, adding that no any family has come out to claim that they lost their family members.
According to the centre, Nigerians whose pictures went viral with rumors of being shot dead amid the Lekki toll gate massacre in the #EndSARS protest have come out to debunk rumors of their death.
"On their social media handles, they released statements to deny being present at the incident scene as some of them claim they have been home since the beginning of the protest.
"They indicated that they did not understand why RIP has been tagged to their pictures as they are alive and not dead.
"Hence, have asked them to take down their RIP tags on their names and the fake rumors.
"Some victims have also blamed celebrities as they are the people that take false rumors afar.
Advising media Practitioners in the country Farinu urged them to be wary of fake news and always verify information before rushing to the press.
According to him, the claim that the bodies of those killed were seized by soldiers is nothing but false.
He added that the reports that the soldiers allegedly prevented ambulances from accessing the scene to take the injured persons to the hospital was ruse.
He, therefore,urged Nigerians youths to wait till the government unravel the fact behind the incident saying the outcome of the Government's investigation would definitely vindicate Nigerian army.
