Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, has dismissed the new investigative report by CNN on the shooting of peaceful ENDSARS protesters at Lekki Tollgate Plaza in Lagos State, saying it shows that “they are desperate”.
The American media outlet had, in its first investigative report on the shooting at Lekki, alleged that soldiers used live bullets on protesters. But the Nigerian Army denied the report, claiming that it only fired blank bullets into the air.
Mohammed condemned the report as ‘irresponsible journalism’ and called the action of CNN. He subsequently accused the American media outlet of attempting to set the country on fire.
Despite threat of sanction by the Minister, CNN went on to release a second ‘investigative report’ on the shootings at Lekki Tollgate Plaza.
Reacting during a programme on NTA, on Wednesday, Mohammed remarked that there is nothing about the report, adding that it lacked credible evidence.
“It shows that they (CNN) are desperate. The so-called recent development has been seen before. There is nothing new. If there is anything new, it is a contradiction of CNN’s position,” he said.
“What we are asking CNN is that where is your evidence? The military has been consistent. CNN contravenes the basic principles of journalism – fairness, and balance.
‘They did the story without contacting the Federal Government for its own side. They relied on second and third parties narratives.
“They (CNN) were caught spreading fake news and they are trying to escape.
“We are accusing them (CNN) of basing their stories on videos sourced on social media. CNN has been inconsistent. It also doctored the video it got. We are confident in our position.”
