The Plateau State Governor, Bako Lalong, has directed security personnel to arrest whoever is caught sharing fake videos and messages that would ignite crisis in the state.
The governor vowed that those arrested for incitement must be made to face the law for their actions.
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Lalong gave the directives on Tuesday night during his welcome speech at the peace and emergency stakeholders meeting, held at Government House.
The meeting was organized in the wake of Saturday’s attack on Fulani travelers who were on their way back to Ondo and Ekiti States after attending a religious event in Bauchi.
About 27 of the travellers were confirmed killed and many injured.
He said, “I wish to draw our attention to the misuse of the social media by some persons who take joy in sharing fake and unsubstantiated videos and messages which further fuel passions leading to unrest. I have directed the security agencies to go after such persons and ensure they face the law for incitement and hate speech.”
The governor however told the gathering that the state had gone through this circle of violence in the past and it had done nobody any good saying, “This is the time for us to unite and confront the common enemy to peace and peaceful coexistence.
“The vision of my administration is to ensure that people live together irrespective of their backgrounds. Justice and fairness are what can guarantee peace.
“We must work hard to resist the ploy by the enemies of our State to exploit religious and ethnic emotions to pitch people against one another. We must outgrow this old trick that has retarded the growth of our State and given us a negative image nationally and internationally.
“Our focus should rather be on promoting our diversity, rich culture and natural endowments and God-given potentials that are an attraction to many investors. Without peace, nobody would invest in the state.
