Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, has described as “absolute fake news” reports that abducted Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, has died in captivity.
“It’s absolutely fake news. There is nothing like that,” Mr Mohammed said at a press briefing in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday
He said the rumour of Miss Sharibu’s death, which surfaced a few days to the presidential election, is another ploy by the political opposition to tarnish the image of the administration and exploit primordial sentiments ahead of the polls.
“I think it’s part of the opposition’s strategies to throw everything at the administration and at the President. I think every day they are realising the hopelessness of their position.
“Every day they are amazed by the support Mr. President is receiving from every part of the country and they have decided that they are going to spread falsehood, inflame passion and make this election a Muslim-Christian affair or North-South affair, but people are not listening to them,” Mohammed said.
He also described the protest in some circles over the redeployment of police commissioners across the country as the handiwork of the opposition, which is working to discredit the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).