Nigeria’s social media space was in turmoil yesterday after it emerged that Audu Maikori, Lawyer and Chocolate City entertainment group C.E.O., had been arrested by the Nigerian police in his home in Lagos on Friday. He was later released late Saturday evening from where he was held in detention at the Police headquarters in Abuja.

His lawyer Mark Jacobs informed the press that Audu was arrested for inciting comments he made on social media in January and February 2017, over the Southern Kaduna crises, in a particular case, alleging that 5 students of the Kaduna state College of Education had been killed by Fulani herdsmen. Audu Maikori, who hails from Kaduna state,  later retracted his statement and apologized on the same medium after he claimed he had allegedly been misinformed by his driver who he trusted. However, it seemed the damage had been done as a Kaduna state Magistrate court  issued a warrant for his arrest on Friday.

Through out yesterday, Nigerian twitter, and indeed all other social networks, were abuzz with compelling arguments surrounding his arrest; as is the case when a prominent young Nigerian is arrested in this administration. There was a hashtag #FreeAudu created for his release. Those who were against the arrest, laid claims that considering many Nigerians post fake news with the intent to actually misinform, and are not arrested, why make Audu the scapegoat? Some others went along the line of the PDP-APC divide and claimed he was arrested for speaking out against the Nasir El-rufai-led APC government in Kaduna state in its dealing with the Southern Kaduna crises.

Those in support of his arrest quoted the rule of law and also supported their claims with the fact that he “insulted” them when they tried to set him right and was intent on inciting violence/incited violence and so had to face the music for his actions.

This once again puts some focus on fake news and the kind of misinformation they give with the intent to incite in Nigeria. Nigeria has a lot of history with fake news, most recent being the statements made by Kaduna state preacher Apostle Suleiman about this same Southern Kaduna crises and the furore surrounding the president’s actual state of health in London. It is refreshing that, for once, facing the consequences for spreading misinformation, and possible disinformation, on Nigeria’s social media space has been put on the front-burner.

However, there is still a subtle nuance that should be considered. How can anyone make allegedly criminal comments in Lagos but the order for his arrest was made in a Magistrate court in Kaduna, where after he was then whisked to Abuja and not Kaduna? And when is it convenient to uphold the law in Nigeria regarding fake news? I’m thinking any time it is believed that there is need to make “an example” of others, as was the case with the Kaduna state government, especially when the alleged culprit is indigenous to the state and had spoken up for his people when the government refused to speak?

The #SouthernKaduna crises, in which Fulani herdsmen were accused of attacking communities in Southern Kaduna, went on for months, as if a possible genocide was not brewing in Kaduna state. There were news flying around, daily, of people being murdered in their homes and farms, and nothing was done for a while. Nothing was done, until celebrities and famous people like Audu Maikori lent their voices to the agitation for better security to be provided to the people living in those communities. Something needs to give one day, or we’ll find the same injustice on our doorsteps.

Yesterday’s story was a lesson learnt in verifying the veracity of information to avoid misinforming others on social media. He was freed yesterday, which would probably have happened anyway, but many in Audu’s shoes without his influence and station would not have been released. However, Nigerian youths need to pick their battles wisely. Audu might have been wrong but he’s not really the enemy. The killings are.

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