Muslim Cleric Advises Journalists Against False Information Dissemination, As NUJ Attends Jumaat Prayers In Calabar
By Uket Oka, Calabar
A Muslim cleric, Imam Akere Abdulhafeez, has cautioned journalists and Muslim faithful against the spreading of untruths, rumours and fake news, as grave consequences await them in line with the teaching of the Holy Qur’an.
Imam Abdulhafeez, who is in-charge of the Calabar Central Mosque, Cross River State, gave the admonition Friday, when members of the Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by their Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey, worshipped at the Mosque as part of activities marking the 2025 Media Week of the NUJ in the state.
He also advised Muslim faithful and journalists in the country against allowing the public to believe in untruths spread in the social media and other organs of mass communication.
“We Muslims must not believe everything published on social media. We ourselves should not join others to spread falsehood because punishment prescribed in the Holy Quran against untruths, is grave. Quran warns against information that can bring disrepute.
“Don’t allow the public to believe in untruths. Untruths have capacity to destabilise the people. Fake news create insecurity, division, hatred and discriminations.
“You should only share true stories with capacity to unite and promote communities and families and religions. Check information before sharing,” Imam Abdulhafeez stated.
He prayed for peace, security, economic growth, peaceful co-existence, and religious harmony.
Speaking, the Chairman of the Media Week celebration committee, Comrade Eyo Charles, explained that NUJ is a conglomeration of journalists of different faiths and beliefs, and a national association.
Charles commended the clergyman for admonishing Muslim faithful to spread goodwill towards one another as this can curb tensions.
