Lai Mohammed blames fake news for EndSARS protest escalation

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has pointed to the pervasive spread of fake news and disinformation as the primary catalyst for the escalation of the 2020 #EndSARS protests. Speaking at a forum at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Mohammed asserted that misinformation, rather than a simple communication gap, posed the most significant challenge for the government during the period.

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The problem we had was not the usual communication gap between the government and the citizens. It was fake news and disinformation, coupled with unbridled violence.

The #EndSARS movement, which began as a peaceful protest against police brutality, gained significant traction on social media. Mohammed acknowledged the initial genuine public frustration but argued that the situation was exacerbated by the widespread circulation of unverified content across both traditional and digital media platforms. He specifically cited the deployment of troops to the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos as a moment when fake news and disinformation intensified.

Mohammed also directed criticism towards international media outlets, singling out CNN for its coverage. He alleged that some of the network's reports were based on unverified or manipulated information, which he believes contributed to heightened tensions and negatively shaped global perceptions of the events. This perspective underscores a recurring theme in Nigerian discourse: the powerful and often detrimental influence of global media narratives on domestic issues.

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The biggest challenge came when the government deployed troops to the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to disperse the protesters. That’s when fake news and disinformation escalated.

Reflecting on broader communication challenges, Mohammed drew parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Nigeria had to develop its communication strategies without a historical precedent, as the last major global health crisis occurred over a century ago. His remarks highlight a deep concern regarding the manipulation of information and its real-world consequences, particularly in shaping public opinion and government response during critical national moments.

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What we saw during EndSARS was the dangerous power of disinformation in real time.