Niger Delta activist and environmentalist, Ann Kio-Briggs, has taken a swipe at two online publications for generating fake news reports and putting them in her mouth in order to gain traction.
She described the fake reports as “coordinated campaign of fake news” aimed at dragging her name into the Rivers State political crisis.
Speaking in a statement released to symfoninews, Briggs stated emphatically that she, at no time, spoke to the said online news platforms, and did not make the remarks attributed to her by blogs and YouTube channels of the platforms.
She insists that the only authentic interview she granted on the issue of Rivers state political crisis, was to Symfoninews, adding that any other report quoting her is “false, fabricated, and wicked.”
The controversy started when a number of online platforms quoted Briggs in their reports allegeding that she had insider knowledge of political maneuvers involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MISQUOTED VIDEO OF ANN BRIGGS ON SYMFONI TV
According to Briggs, one of the most widely shared falsehoods came from a report carried by Phoenix Browser, which quoted her as saying: “His wife is already in Abuja, whispering in the president’s ear, and Tinubu won’t tolerate this chaos in the oil-rich state.”
Another YouTube-based channel, Global Happenings Today, further inflamed the situation by publishing a video that quoted her as saying: “Fubara’s naivety has blinded him to the realities of power; Tinubu’s intervention is coming and it will force his hand.”
She debunked both statements as fake and not emanating from her.
Though the said comments has gained traction on social media and sparked-off debates about behind-the-scenes plots in Rivers State, Briggs insisted that she has no hands in them.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that I never spoke about the President’s wife or the Governor’s wife. These so-called reports are complete fabrications meant to mislead the public. My only statements on this matter were made during my interview with Symfoni, and that remains the only truthful source,” she said.
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Briggs expressed anger at the attempt to associate her with unverified claims, noting that the quotes being spread are designed not just to discredit her but also to misinform Nigerians about the delicate political situation in Rivers State. According to her, the bloggers and YouTubers deliberately twisted her comments or invented words she never uttered in order to attract traffic to their pages.
Commenting further, Briggs said, “when lies are told in my name, it is not just my reputation that suffers,” she said. “It is also the people of Rivers State who are misled, and the truth about the political struggle we face is buried under fabrications. That is why I must speak out.”
In countering the falsehoods, Ann Kio-Briggs is also reminding the public about the importance of responsible journalism. She singled out Symfoni News as the only platform she spoke to on the matter, stressing that her recorded interview is available for anyone who wants to verify her actual words. This, she argues, is what separates authentic journalism from the reckless clickbait tactics of blogs and certain YouTube channels.
“People should learn to ask themselves basic questions,” Briggs said. “Did I see the original video? Did I hear the person actually say those words? If the answer is no, then it’s likely a fabrication. This culture of blindly believing blogs and YouTube channels must stop.”
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