Nigerians have attacked the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, after he said CNN should be sanctioned because of the investigation on the Lekki shootings it published on Wednesday.
In the investigation, CNN made use of videos that were geolocated from various protesters, showing how bloody the peaceful protest turned and linking the bullet shells found at the scene to the Nigerian security forces.
The minister, on Thursday, during a briefing on the aftermath of the protest, said the international news organisation should be sanctioned for the report.
Lekki Massacre Investigation: CNN Sends Defiant Message To FG After Sanction Threat
“CNN engaged in incredible sensationalism and did a great disservice to itself and to journalism. In the first instance, CNN, which touted its report as an exclusive investigative report, sadly relied on the same videos that have been circulating on social media, without verification.
“This is very serious and CNN should be sanctioned for that. CNN merely said the videos were”obtained by CNN”, without saying wherefrom and whether or not it authenticated them. Were CNN reporters and cameramen at the Lekki Toll Gate that evening?,” the minister said.
The minister trended on Twitter as he received a backlash from Nigerian Twitter users.
CNN Releases Report On Lekki Shooting (A Must Read)!
Here are some of the reactions:
How exactly does Lai Mohammed plan to sanction CNN?
Rather than take the findings from the investigation and do something about it, your plan is to cast aspersions on CNN
All the comedians in Nigeria should resign, we have comedy for days. The only problem is we're not laughing
— Dr. Chinonso Egemba (@aproko_doctor) November 19, 2020
Lai Mohammed on NTA just said CNN should be sanctioned for their investigation 😂😂😂😂😂😂
A discredited govt of shameless liars, criminal murderers and clueless morons calls a global television network “irresponsible” for exposing their evil to the world.@CNN PLEASE DO MORE!
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@DrOlufunmilayo) November 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/AsiwajuLerry/status/1329392069870292995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1329392069870292995%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsflash247.com.ng%2Fnigerians-react-on-lai-mohammed-for-attacking-cnns-lekki-shooting-investigation%2F
Lai Mohammed said CNN should be sanctioned, Who will sanction the government for freezing bank accounts illegally?
All Lie Mohammed knows is to disseminate false information, Minister of lies!!!
— Victor Babatunde (@vhic_tore) November 19, 2020
Lai Mohammed wants to sanction CNN. Imagine if CNN were under their control? This shows the gag around the necks of our journalists in this country. It's worse than we thought.
— Ifeabunike Chukwudi (@Ifeabunike) November 19, 2020
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