Lagos govt threatens to sue X user over alleged false flood video

The Lagos State Government has announced its intention to pursue legal action against an X user for allegedly circulating a false video of flooding that was falsely presented as occurring in Lagos. The user, identified as Enugu Loudmouth (@Jamessucre2), has since deleted the post, but the government insists legal proceedings will continue.

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Taking down the post after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law

Tokunbo Wahab, the state's Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, stated on X that removing the post does not absolve the user of responsibility. "Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law," Wahab wrote.

Wahab emphasized that while the government respects freedom of expression, it must be exercised responsibly. He argued that the deliberate spread of false information undermines the state's efforts to address public concerns and erodes confidence in genuine complaints from residents.

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While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognise that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits

The commissioner clarified that the viral flood footage was not from Lagos but was recorded in Bangladesh. He urged users to verify content authenticity before sharing to prevent public misinformation and to support credible discussions about Lagos's issues. This action follows a recent accusation by the Lagos government against bloggers and influencers for similar misinformation regarding flood images and videos.

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The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos