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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Crowds besiege Jigawa LG over fake N75,000 COVID-19 grant

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Crowds gathered at the Gumel Local Government Secretariat in Jigawa State, Nigeria, following a viral online rumor about a N75,000 COVID-19 grant.
  • The rumor falsely claimed that residents with vaccination cards would receive cash, leading many to abandon daily activities to seek the non-existent payment.
  • Local government officials and a state health agency official debunked the rumor, urging residents to verify information and ignore the false claim.

Residents of Gumel Local Government Area in Jigawa State, Nigeria, flocked to the council secretariat on Tuesday after a false rumor spread online about a N75,000 COVID-19 grant for vaccinated individuals. The viral claim, circulated on social media and WhatsApp groups, promised cash to anyone providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

I heard on WhatsApp that COVID-19 card holders will collect N75,000 today. I came early but found nothing here.

— Idris SaniA resident describing his experience after traveling to the secretariat based on the rumor.

Many residents abandoned their daily activities, with some traveling significant distances, to queue for the non-existent payment. Malam Idris Sani, who traveled 15 kilometers from his village, expressed disappointment, stating, "I heard on WhatsApp that COVID-19 card holders will collect N75,000 today. I came early but found nothing here."

The rumour said the government wants to pay vaccinated people. I brought my card, but officials told us it’s fake news.

— Maryamu SalisuAnother resident expressing disappointment after being informed the news was false.

Maryamu Salisu shared a similar experience, saying, "The rumour said the government wants to pay vaccinated people. I brought my card, but officials told us it’s fake news." The Gumel Local Government Council quickly moved to dispel the rumor. Hussaini Umar Gumel, Special Adviser to the Chairman on New Media, stated, "The news has no basis at all. No government agency announced any N75,000 grant for COVID-19 cardholders."

The news has no basis at all. No government agency announced any N75,000 grant for COVID-19 cardholders.

— Hussaini Umar GumelSpecial Adviser to the Gumel Local Government Chairman on New Media, debunking the rumor.

He urged residents to disregard the false claim and verify information before sharing or acting on it. A senior official from the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, speaking anonymously, also debunked the claim, confirming that the agency did not approve or pay any cash grant to vaccinated persons.

JSPHCDA did not approve, and it is not paying any cash grant to vaccinated persons. The rumour is false.

— Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency officialAn anonymous official from the state health agency confirming the rumor was untrue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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