According to the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, 4th Brigade Command, Capt. Mohammed Maidawa, troops responding to a distress call from a robbery incident engaged armed men at the scene, and shot one Vigilante member (Efe Igbinovia), mistaking him for an armed robber.
“Troops deployed in Ologbo for pipeline protection received information of a suspected armed robbery close to their location. They were mobilized to the scene and engaged armed men at the scene.
“Unfortunately, one person, who was later identified as a vigilante, was killed. Preliminary investigation revealed that the vigilance group also responded to a distress call on the robbery. It was a case of mistaken identity”.
Punch Newspaper, the progenitor of the news, conveniently left the facts of the story till the last part, while other media houses like Dailypost, Pulseng, Nigerianbulletin followed in misinforming the populace.
In contrast to Punch allegation that the Soldiers freed the herdsmen, Edo state Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, said the herdsmen are in custody, and investigations are ongoing.
“The herdsmen were alleged to have blocked the expressway. Two of them (suspects) are with the Police undergoing interrogation”.
It is no longer business as usual, as ETN24 is dedicated to fighting fake news, checkmating unbalanced reportage and bringing culprits to book.
Other times Punch lied:
- About Ekwueme’s burial Expenses – https://www.etn24.com/news/ekwueme-1bn-burial-vanguard-punch-daily-post-get-quote/
- About IGP of Police and “women” – https://www.etn24.com/fact-check/punch-mispunched-igps-statement/
- Quoting verbatim and yet lying on El Rufai – https://www.etn24.com/news/punch-newspaper-quoting-el-rufai-changing-said-time/
- Fulani Herdsmen Sensation –https://www.etn24.com/news/murder-pregnant-lady-ekiti-government-says-armed-robbery-media-insists-killer-herdsmen/
- Killing of 120 Imaginary persons – https://www.etn24.com/media-reviews/one-waziri-punch-newspaper-picked-sensational-story-unknown-facebook-user/https://www.etn24.com/media-reviews/blog-started-fake-news-ekwuemes-death/
