Sanwo-Olu Cautions People Using Viral Videos To Incite Ethnic, Religious Conflicts
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has cautioned against causing religious and ethnic conflicts in the state with some viral videos.
He urged residents to disregard the viral videos said to be “creating tension and encouraging ethnic and religious conflicts” in the state.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, quoted the governor as warning those circulating the videos to stop, noting that the videos could trigger another crisis in the state.
The statement titled, ‘Lagos urges Lagosians to disregard ethnic, religious jingoists’, was issued on Saturday.
It was gathered that the videos went viral after soldiers shot at #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday.
Sanwo-Olu threatened that those circulating the inciting videos and fake news would face legal consequences if they do not desist.
It read, “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to videos in social media and the online space, creating tension and encouraging ethnic conflicts.
“The government will continue to protect lives and property. Fake news and inciting message merchants are hereby warned to stop their evil enterprise or face the legal consequences of their destructive actions. Our dear State will go through this with the resilience for which we are known and come out stronger.
“Sanwo-Olu has urged Lagosians to disregard the videos, which are the tools of anarchists, whose plan is to create hatred and divisiveness for which Lagos is not known.
“Inciting videos of this nature are not what our land needs now, following the loss of lives and destruction that fake news, misinformation, and unfounded rumours have triggered in our dear State in the last couple of days.
“The government appeals to Lagosians to disregard the calls of ethnic and religious jingoists as well as agents of destruction who are on a mission to destroy our State by pitching us against one another for yet to be ascertained reasons.
“The sad incident of the past few days affected everyone who lives, trades, or works in Lagos, regardless of their tribe, culture, race and religion. This is a time for us to empathise with one another and not listen to purveyors of evil messages, especially on social media.”
