Fake News, Disinformation Fueled 2020 #EndSARS Protests – Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Lai Mohammed, has said the October 2020 #EndSARS protests were driven more by fake news and disinformation than by any shortcomings in government communication.

His remarks were contained in a statement issued to Peoples Gazette on Sunday by his media aide, Nnamdi Atupulazi, following a high-level forum at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he spoke on governance, media responsibility, and crisis communication.

The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020 as a youth-led movement demanding the end of police brutality in Nigeria, particularly against the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The demonstrations quickly spread across major cities and gained global attention, becoming one of the most significant civic movements in Nigeria’s recent history.

According to Lai Mohammed, while the protests initially reflected genuine public anger, they were later “hijacked” and escalated by the spread of misinformation, unverified reports, and doctored content across both social media and traditional media platforms.

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“The problem we had was not the usual communication gap between the government and the citizens. It was fake news and disinformation, coupled with unbridled violence,” he said.

He also alleged that some foreign media outlets amplified tensions by relying on unverified or misleading content, which he said contributed to a distorted global perception of events during the protests.

“What we saw during #EndSARS was the dangerous power of disinformation in real time,” he noted, adding that it highlights the need for stronger fact-checking systems, media accountability, and information regulation frameworks.

The former minister further stated that the experience underscored the growing global challenge of information disorder, especially during crises.

In the same address, Mohammed also referenced Nigeria’s communication response during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the government had to develop its strategy from scratch due to the absence of a recent global precedent.

“When COVID-19 broke out, there was no template to fall back on. So we had to devise our own communication strategy on the go,” he said.

He explained that the administration adopted daily briefings, multi-platform messaging, and engagement with media outlets to ensure widespread dissemination of public health information. He added that materials were translated into major Nigerian languages and Pidgin English to improve public understanding.

The event at LSE formed part of his speaking tour in the United Kingdom, where he also discussed governance communication and leadership, anchored on his memoir, “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration,” which documents his time as government spokesperson from 2015 to 2023.

The comments are likely to reignite debate around the causes and handling of the #EndSARS protests, which remain a sensitive subject in Nigeria’s political and civic discourse.

Fake News, Disinformation Fueled 2020 #EndSARS Protests – Lai Mohammed

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of Captagon pills in Kwara State, marking a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug trafficking and its links to global criminal networks.

The agency described the seizure as particularly notable, coming nearly five years after what it previously identified as Africa’s first interception of Captagon at Apapa Port in Lagos.

Captagon, an amphetamine-based stimulant, is widely abused in parts of the Middle East and has been linked to armed groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Authorities say proceeds from the drug trade are often used to fund extremist activities, while the substance itself is used to enhance endurance and reduce fear among fighters.

In a statement issued by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, operatives intercepted the latest shipment on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State.

A search conducted on a 33-year-old suspect, identified as N. Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon concealed in 10 packs, alongside nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg, a powerful opioid.

Babafemi noted that Captagon can sell for as much as $25 per pill on the black market, making it a lucrative commodity for trafficking syndicates.

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In a related operation on April 24 at the same location, NDLEA operatives intercepted another trailer (registration number RMY-70XA), uncovering a hidden compartment loaded with multiple illicit substances. The seizure included:

• 155,900 capsules of Tramadol
• 6,000 ampoules of Tramadol injection
• 3,000 tablets of Co-Codamol
• 9,000 tablets of Bromazepam

A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the consignment.

In Oyo State, along the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus traveling to Sokoto. A passenger, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, was subjected to a body scan after exhibiting suspicious behaviour.

The scan confirmed ingestion of illicit substances, and under medical observation, he excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three separate excretions.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly opted for road travel to evade airport screening. He was reportedly planning to pass through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and a possible final destination in Europe—highlighting the international dimension of Nigeria’s drug trafficking routes.

Further operations in Edo State led to the interception of a truck carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids along the Benin–Lagos Expressway. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested, with the consignment reportedly bound for Onitsha.

The NDLEA said the coordinated operations underscore the growing scale and sophistication of drug trafficking networks in Nigeria, including the use of concealed compartments, human couriers, and multi-state distribution channels.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement, warning that the convergence of drug trafficking and terrorism financing poses a serious threat to national and regional security.

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

Aisha Yesufu Alleges Chibok School Rejected Peter Obi’s Donations

Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has alleged that Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, in Borno State, rejected donations of computers, printers and financial support from Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

The claim has sparked fresh debate over political interference in education, donations to public schools, and access to institutions in Nigeria.

The Chibok school became globally known after the 2014 abduction of 276 students by Boko Haram, an incident that led to the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign championed by Obiageli Ezekwesili. While many of the girls have since been rescued or released, dozens remain missing more than a decade later.

In a series of posts on X, Yesufu explained that Obi’s attempt to support the school was frustrated at multiple stages, reflecting what she described as a wider pattern affecting government-owned institutions in Nigeria.

According to her, members of the Chibok community initially raised concerns about the lack of computers in the school, prompting Obi to immediately offer support.

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She said the plan included donating computers and printers, assessing other needs, and providing additional funding to improve learning conditions.

However, the process reportedly faced repeated setbacks.

“We were first denied access to visit the school. Efforts to deliver the items through the state capital or neighbouring states were also rejected. Even attempts to bring school representatives to Abuja did not succeed,” Yesufu stated.

She added that the intervention was eventually carried out in Abuja, where Obi met representatives of the Chibok community and handed over the equipment along with financial assistance.

Yesufu argued that such experiences explain why Obi frequently visits private schools and mission-owned institutions, noting that access is often easier compared to public institutions.

“People think he is selective, but the reality is that government institutions often refuse visits or decline support,” she said.

The allegation has intensified conversations around education funding in Nigeria, institutional transparency, and the role of politics in humanitarian interventions.

Observers say the issue reflects deeper governance challenges, particularly in regions recovering from insurgency, where access to educational infrastructure remains limited.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Borno State government nor the management of GGSS Chibok has issued an official response to the claims.

Aisha Yesufu Alleges Chibok School Rejected Peter Obi’s Donations