Nasarawa: Commissioner Sani Otto refutes viral video, says it was manipulated to show public humiliation instead of his peacekeeping efforts in a chieftaincy dispute
By Yahaya Idris
Honourable Mohammed Sani Otto, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Investment, has urged media organizations to verify their stories before publication to prevent misleading the public.
Otto highlighted the importance of responsible journalism in maintaining public trust and accurate information dissemination.
In response to a viral video claiming he was attacked during Eid-al-Fitr prayers at Onda Kana, Udege Development Area in Nasarawa, Commissioner Mohammed Sani Otto emphasized the importance of verifying information before publication to avoid misleading the public.
Otto, a former Executive Chairman of Nasarawa LGC strongly denied the reports that he was attacked during Eid-al-Fitr prayers at Onda Kana. He claims the video was selectively edited to fabricate a narrative of public humiliation, while in reality, he acted as a peacemaker in a chieftaincy dispute between community leaders.
The commissioner’s statement suggests that media reports were politically motivated and lacked factual basis, emphasizing the need for accurate reporting to avoid misleading the public
Below is his full statement:
THE ONDA EID SKIRMISHES, HON. MOHAMMED SANI OTTO AND THE FALSE NARRATIVE
My attention has been drawn to a viral video making the round on social media in which the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Investment, Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto was visibly sighted at Onda Eid Ground.
In the same video, one that was deliberately edited in part, to capture the area that presents a false narrative aimed at misinforming the unsuspecting public about what truly played out.
For the record, let me state that Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto chose to observe Eid-el Fitr prayer with his kinsmen at Onda, out of the love, respect and admiration he has for them, a usual disposition that characterizes him.
On getting to the Eid Ground, he was greeted by skirmishes involving loyalists of the Osu Onda, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Kuku and Alh. Usman Ode, a one time contender to the exalted throne of Osu, as both were on ground. Typical of traditional tussles, infight broke out. While this was already on, the Honourable Commissioner arrived.
It took his intervention to calm frailed nerves, mediating in the process. His intervention restored law and order, saving what might have turned into avoidable losses, and saw to the duo observing Eid prayer on the spot.
Listening to the widely circulated video, one could hear a background voice echoing “the last year skirmishes were worse-off” outrightly pointing to recurrence of the same episode when indeed, the world knows that Hon. Otto did not observe Eid prayer there last year. What played out at the scene was power tussle involving the current Osu and his major contender.
Why Nasarawa Mirror (N-Morror) and Sahara Reporters published the the doctored news without any verification is the reason some Media outlets are spotted in bad light.
From available pictures and videos at the Eid Ground, the duo of His Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Kuku and a respected elder statesman, Alh. Usman Ode can be sighted at the front row, as Sheikh Zubairu Agabi, the Deputy Chief Imam of Onda led the prayer.
Let me emphasize that at a point , out of emotion, the Honourable Commissioner was in tears watching his own people whom he dearly loves and proudly identifies with, engaging in infighting. As a responsible leader who is committed to unity and harmonious coexistence, it is only natural that he was overtaken by emotion, hence his tears, a part that was maliciously misrepresented.
That notwithstanding, he chose not to leave the people he considers his’, by themselves, to continue hurting each other, even when he was advised
