President Muhammadu Buhari has on Wednesday warned a Nigerians against sharing of images that are capable of further dividing the country.
His statement came amidst tension being created by video of an alleged killings in the South-East of non-indigenes which could spark violence in other parts of the country.
The Presidency feared that could “retaliatory violence following the viral videos of the alleged killings of non-indigenes by the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and its mother terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).”
In a statement made available to the NPO Reports, the presidency said expert agencies “are now verifying the factuality and veracity of the claims that accompany the horrid pictures being circulated.”
“We call on all citizens to avoid hasty steps or conclusions that could exacerbate the situation, and on the contrary keep to a line of conduct that will help the law to take its proper course.”
Advising against indiscriminate sharing of divisive images, the president said “sharing of posts on social media” could “deny vested interests who seek to divide us and create disturbance the chance to do so.”
The statement added, “In the issuance of his very strong condemnation of these “wild, barbarous and wanton killings of innocent people” in the South-East as well as the other parts of the country, which he described as “deeply distressing,” President Muhammadu Buhari warns the perpetrators of these acts to expect tough response from the security forces.”