Akure, Nigeria – The Ondo State Police Command has launched a strong rebuke against Sahara Reporters, accusing the news outlet of publishing false information regarding the alleged involvement of Nigeria’s First Lady’s convoy in a fatal hit-and-run accident and misreporting a kidnapping incident.
In a press release issued on April 17, 2025, the police stated that preliminary investigations and eyewitness accounts confirmed that the death of seven-year-old Saratu Lawal was caused by an unregistered white Lexus vehicle, not by any vehicle in Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s convoy. The police claim a witness pursued the fleeing vehicle after the incident.
The police also accused Sahara Reporters of misreporting the victim’s age and falsely claiming that a kidnapping incident occurred in Ondo State when it actually took place in neighboring Edo State.
“According to her parents, the child was in fact seven years old—another clear example of the publication’s disregard for factual accuracy, even in reporting such a sensitive and tragic matter,” the police statement read.
The Ondo State Police Command has demanded that Sahara Reporters retract the false reports and issue public apologies. The police emphasized their commitment to truth, accountability, and the safety and security of all residents of the state.
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This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and the media in Nigeria, particularly in cases involving high-profile figures. The police’s strong response suggests a determination to control the narrative and counter what they perceive as biased or inaccurate reporting.
Sahara Reporters has yet to respond to the police’s accusations. The case raises questions about media ethics, the responsibility of journalists to verify information, and the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly in the digital age. The public is left to weigh the conflicting accounts and determine where the truth lies.
