Examples:

https://www.nairaland.com/2146669/breaking-news-bokoharam-sends-out

https://www.nairaland.com/2146379/buhari-visits-okija-osun-oshogbo

It has suddenly become a norm for many NLers to cook up fictional stories and release them on NL as though they were news from hidden sources.

Examples are the ones titled "Buhari and Osinbajo visit Okija and Osogbo Shrine" and "Bokoharam sends out letter "

The author did not for once say it was only a joke...

Is this not a serious legal offence?
Is this not a serious religious offence?
Have we suddenly become comfortable with cooking lies?
Will God not question you on the last day for the lies you tell over 160 million people?
The bible says "thou shall not bear false witness"
The quran urges us to be truthful.

The people that cook up these lies may think it is just about being funny, but then, why not write at the start or end of the article that "this is just a joke, pls ignore".

Most people (just like the French cartoonist that insults islam) simply sit in the corner of their houses, cooking fictions and writing inflammatory articles, they have no idea how many innocent people would be killed in retaliation. For any fake newsbyou spread, you might be endangering the life of one helpless old man or woman or kid. The pen is very powerful.

Sincerely, this is not a joke, the punishment for liars is surely awaiting them.

There is Hell o


Ps: i am saying this now because as the elections draw closer, tension would be higher... And the fake news u joke with might lead to severe consequences.
Attimes I wish we had the Decree 4