Buhari cautions on fake news and the importance of journalists

Fake news is a reason for concern ahead of the presidential and gubernatorial elections, to be held in February and March respectively.

President Muhammadu Buhari makes an observation on the importance of verifying news reports. - The Nigerian Expression

President Muhammadu Buhari who was once a subject of a fabricated story claiming that he is a clone, has called for factual reporting only.

He recognizes via Twitter on Thursday, January 10, 2019, the importance of journalism to the Nigerian society -- a reason why the information disseminated by the press must be accurate all the time.

"Journalism is a very important part of our society and our democracy; it should be credible and based on facts at all times," the president says.

Fake news able to inspire World War III 

At a conference organized by the BBC News on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, were able to learn ways to combat the existence of untrustworthy information.

The event was attended by Nobel Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, who thinks fake news can start a war capable of expanding across the globe.

A strict punishment for peddlers of phony news can help in discouraging the act. Having access to data and cheap smartphones have made it easy for the manipulators to operate.

Wole Soyinka thinks fake news should be treated as a crime to limit activity.

Only a firm hand can uproot the problem according to Soyinka -- such as a jail term.

“We need to accept the fact that fake news is real and it should be treated as a crime. There are already existing laws to prosecute offenders of fake news in the country.