Beware of Fake News on Coronavirus – LASG

The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to various false stories, particularly on the social media, in respect of the identification and quarantine of the 44-year-old Italian, who tested positive to Coronavirus, on his return from a business trip to Turkey.

One of the stories alleged that the patient became angry and attempted to escape from the isolation ward due to what it described as the unsuitable condition of the Infectious Diseases Control Hospital in Yaba.

Another said that an individual, who claimed to have driven the Italian to Ogun State, escaped from hospital and has threatened to spread the virus all over Nigeria. He is said to be seeking N100m for his family to deter him from the ‘suicide mission’.

It is disheartening that some mischief makers are handling the Coronavirus issue with levity and peddling fake news at a time medical science is focused on how to stop the infection.

This situation calls for vigilance and soberness, not wicked jokes and frivolities.

The Lagos State Government, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ogun State Government, remains focused on entrenching measures to contain the infection and will not be distracted by activities of those who seem to be unconscious of the gravity of the situation.
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This is not a time for intrigues. Every Lagosian is required to support the government’s efforts at fighting this situation and taking precautions required to prevent an epidemic.

All residents should disregard any piece of information that does not emanate from official sources – the Federal Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the National Centre for Disease Control.

Members of the public are implored to call the Lagos State Emergency Hotlines - 08023169485, 08033565529, 08052817243 - to report any suspected case of Coronavirus.

naptu2:
Some crazy people stole a picture of this man from an old news article and then concocted a crazy story that he is a taxi driver named Adewale Isaac Olorogun that drove the Italian man from Lagos to Ogun State and that he is infected with the coronavirus. They further stated that he is demanding for a large amount of money and that he will spread the virus if he is not given that money. The entire story is false.

The man has made this video in order to debunk the lie. His name is Jude Ikuenobe and he is based in Edo State. He has not been to Lagos for the past 2 years.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dNLVaKb_QE

The crazy story was published on a fake AIT Facebook page and AIT has now disowned the story and the page. See screenshots below (the third screenshot contains the fake story).

naptu2:
Unfortunately there are a lot of these fake stories going around. People need to be careful and check the source of their information. On the day that it was announced that the first case was recorded in Nigera, someone created an insane story that the patient worked at a company on Banana Island and that he had visited certain schools and hotels and that he had slept with certain women. The entire story was false.


There was another fake news that 28 people in Ogun State had been diagnosed with the coronavirus disease. That's also fake news.

Ishilove:

I am astounded anyone actually took that story serious. Even when it was shared to me, I laughed and ignored it, but to my surprise the person who shared it believed the story completely.

I've been on social media long enough to intuit when a story is false. The government needs to take a tough stand on fake news before it causes serious damage.

Openbusiness:
The number one liars in this country are the government. Social media is filled with lies no doubt but i'll rather take my chances with social media that with any government in Nigeria who themselves are expert lying machines