The Borno State Governor’s Media Unit has refuted claims circulating on various online platforms that one of Governor Babagana Zulum’s sons has been arrested and sentenced to prison for the murder of Indian citizens.
In a statement issued by Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, and made available to our correspondent on Wednesday night, it was noted: “The Borno State Governor’s Media Unit has been alerted to rumors that one of the governor’s sons has been apprehended for allegedly murdering Indian citizens.
“This false information was published on an online blog, Nairaland, under the headline ‘Son of Borno State Governor Murders Someone in India—Politics.’ The blog also suggested that the Governor traveled to India to use his diplomatic status to address the situation.
“It is important to clarify that Governor Babagana Zulum was actually on a one-month vacation in Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj, after which he proceeded to Egypt to attend the annual ASWAN Forum conference in Cairo.
“The Media Unit firmly asserts that Nairaland and similar online blogs have disseminated misleading and defamatory content without any factual basis.
“We hereby demand that Nairaland and all other platforms that have propagated this falsehood remove the misinformation from their sites within 24 hours and issue a full apology to Governor Zulum, his son, and the entire family, or face potential legal action. The Governor is prepared to take legal measures against any media outlet that continues to spread this defamatory content.
“We want to make it clear that none of Governor Zulum’s sons have been arrested, charged with any crime, or involved in any unlawful activities.
“We urge the public to be cautious when consuming and sharing information, particularly when it originates from unverified sources or blogs rather than reputable media outlets.
“We call on all media organizations to adhere to responsible journalism practices, emphasizing truth and factual verification, and to consider the potential harm and psychological impact that false information may have on the Governor’s family.” The statement concluded.
Our correspondent has noted that there have been unverified rumors, especially on social media, alleging that the governor’s first son, who recently married, has divorced his wife and committed murder abroad.