Plateau Governor Shows Concern Over Victims Account Manipulation In Media

Caleb Muftwang, governor of Plateau, a Nigerian North Central state, battling militia attacks on its far flung ungoverned territories, is concerned about what he terms as manipulation of victims accounts of their ordeal to reflect ethnic bias.

The governor was reacting to recent misrepresentation of a video footage from Arise, a leading television station in the country where one of the Plateau victims of recent killings was being interviewed in a hospital bed.

The victim spoke in Hausa while the footage had a voice-over interpretation.

Killings in the state has again stoked embers of the country’s age long ethno-religious crossfire.

Speaking via his social media handle, Muftwang of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Nigeria’s leading opposition party, has hinted of a probe on the alleged manipulation.

“My Administration and I are fully aware of the concerns circulating regarding the alleged doctoring of speeches from victims.

” I want to assure you that we take these matters seriously, and a thorough investigation will be conducted to address any potential manipulation,” he said.

Audio manipulation assumed worrisome dimension especially in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria with voices of opposition candidates allegedly manipulated to reflect ethnic and religious bias.

Peter Obi, surprise presidential candidate of the country’s Labour Party, LP, at the 2023 general election and who also enjoyed what observers believe is an unprecedented non-transactional political support across the country, was a victim of these alleged manipulation.

But the age long conflict in Plateau has recently drawn global concern with calls from the Vetican and Hungary’s president, calling attention to what appears to be genocide in the state.

But governor Muftwang says he is determined to pursue peace and unity in the state.

“In the midst of these challenges, let us not lose sight of our primary goal – the pursuit of unity and peace within our beloved state.

It is crucial that we remain focused on fostering understanding, empathy, and cooperation among our diverse communities,” the governor said.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook