The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has expressed deep concern and condemned a false publication recently circulated by Sahara Reporters, alleging that a 22-year-old woman named Miss Zainab Muhamadu was facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity in Zamfara State.
In a statement by the Ekiti State Chapter Chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Akewusola Yusuf and the Secretary, Alhaji Qazeem Oladapo, the MMPN described the report as reckless, dishonest and dangerous, warning that such unverified and inflammatory stories could trigger avoidable religious tension in the country.
According to the group, the fabricated story is a glaring example of unethical journalism at its worst, as the report not only misled the public but also attempted to stoke religious animosity in a country already grappling with complex socio-religious dynamics.
The MMPN noted that the Zamfara State Government had since debunked the claim, clarifying that no such case exists in any Shari’ah court within the state.
According to the state government, the photo used in the viral story was that of an American citizen named Aalia from Texas, who has never been to Nigeria, while the woman herself has publicly dissociated from the story.
“This dangerous misinformation was manufactured by Sahara Reporters and further spread by several unregulated online blogs, without any form of verification. The originator of the fake news has since deleted the post and Sahara Reporters quietly took down the story without offering an apology, clarification, or retraction,” the group lamented.
MMPN called on relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the source of the fabricated story and bring those responsible to justice, stressing that freedom of the press must not be abused to promote falsehood and disharmony,
It urged media practitioners to uphold the ethics of journalism, especially the core values of truth, accuracy and objectivity.
While affirming the right of citizens to free expression and religion, MMPN also called on the public to verify information before sharing, especially on sensitive matters like religion and ethnicity.
