By Leshi Adebayo, Yormekpeh Israel
CLAIM
A viral Twitter screenshot assumed to be the official Page (with username @LagosStateUni) of the Lagos State University (LASU) management bore information that the management will sanction and hand over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), students found to be liquid drug fondly called Elle. According to the contents of the screenshot, with watermark, 'LASU Memes 09076960103', it was stated that the students will be tested for drug intake before sitting for the forthcoming examinations. It ended with '#LasuSaysNoToDrugs'.
The analysis of the viral Twitter screenshot shows that the information is misleading. The most likely reason for circulating the information is to generate reactions and have fun considering the fact that the watermarks indicates that it is probably a meme which is supposed to lighten or make people laugh. Also, in a bid to confirm the authenticity of the information and the source, ACJ-LASU visited the Centre For Information Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), a PR section of the school, the head of CIPPR stated that the information was not true as the Twitter account in the viral screenshot is different from that of the school.
FULL TEXT
The importance of the social media cannot be overemphasized but also the adverse effects it has on its users cannot be denied too. Hence, the efficacy of the information passed via various social media platforms needs to determined.
Even before now, there are so many forms of information which in a bid to ease the tension of individuals, in the same vein cause information disorders in the society such as misinformation, disinformation, malainformation etc.
With this in focus, a viral Twitter screenshot was circulated via social media platforms especially WhatsApp, on March 11, 2022 with a message which reads: "Just In- Lagos state University management announces that any student found with the liquid drug popularly Known as ELLE will be sanctioned with drug abuse penalties and handed to the NDLEA, says Drug test will be imposed on students before sitting for Exams. #LasuSaysNoToDrugs." With no exact number of how many individuals have seen the viral screenshot, there is a possibility that the picture has reached far and wide as seen in some screenshots.
CONTROVERSY
The claiming having spread received controversial comments on WhatsApp and Twitter. It seems a good number of people believed the claim while another set of people doubted it. Dated March 11, 2022, someone (WhatsApp name-Who?) posted the viral screenshot on a WhatsApp group (which was used as a WhatsApp status) with a message, "One person don drop out". It could be seen also in this post that there was a question asked, "Na true?" With a statement, "Wahala o 😂😂."
Same day (March 11, 2022), on another WhatsApp group for students, there were doubts of the authenticity of the claim. Someone replied the post saying, "i think it might be edited cos i check the school's page on Twitter and didn't find the post." Another group member (@Joseph Gbadamosi) stated without doubts saying, "Fake Now. Check the Twitter handle." Again, another group member (@Damilare) replied, "What if the tweet was deleted by the handler." Someone on the group disclosed that he/she saw the post on March 10, 2022. The person (@Yourfavemeen) wrote, "This looks purely edited, since I saw it yesterday."
On the other hand, Twitter users also commented individually on the issue, which showed how far the claim has gone.
@BODRepublican on March 10, 2022 tweeted, "LASU management be collecting everything that is giving students joy🥲, they collect cult, still wan collect Elle that is keeping boys going😔. #WeNoGoGree." This tweet has garnered 14 likes, 1 retweet and 2 comments at the time. Replying to the BODRepublic's tweet, @dejiaso tweeted the same day, "How them wan take collect our zobo, Omo i just dey hear this info. We no go gree oh. Elle, our own Hennessy."
Another tweep, @OGDABIRA tweeted on March 11, 2022, "LASU wants to do drug test for students 😂😂😂, more than half of the school is in trouble🥴"
Now, since it is not the first time such is happening, in terms of misinforming the public. Is the claim true?
VERIFICATION
Fortunately, the claim has not been seen on any major blog or minor blog except social media platforms such as Twitter and WhatsApp. In the viral Twitter screenshot seen so far, there were no changes in the format, the watermark bearing LASU Memes and the contact phone number.
In verifying the claim, ACJ-LASU reached out to the Centre for Information Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), who is in charge of protecting the school's public image, and the LASU meme contact which was discovered to be the source of the viral screenshot.
In a short interview with the Head of CIPPR, Mr Adekoya, he said, "This is LASU Twitter handle as the official handle of LASU bears the username, @LASUOfficial." This can be seen as valid in the screenshot below. According to Mr Adekoya, the message is false and the school management has not taken any decisions in relation to the claim. "The Twitter Account is probably another one but not the school's," Adekoya said.
Responding to the question of whether LASU management will take necessary actions in regard to 'Elle' drinking, in the future, Mr Adekoya said the management is already against drug abuse. He said, "The school already has revealed its position on the use of drugs and students are not expected to use them." According to him, about 3-4 years ago, the school management published a bulletin in respect to the school's decision against drug abuse. At the time, in the bulletin, restricted students from going to the LASU Staff's club and a beer joint at the Amala complex in the school campus. He assured ACJ-LASU of his co-operation in case of further updates and information.
In addition, the LASU Meme contact was called several times by ACJ-LASU on March 12, 2022, but no response was gotten. Until later in the evening, LASU Memes spoke to ACJ-LASU via WhatsApp. The conversation can be seen in the screenshots below. According to her, it was just for fun. It was not true. This further proves that the claim is false.
CONCLUSION
The Lagos State University (LASU) management has and did not publish any information on its official Twitter account sanctioning students who drink ELLE by handing them over to the NDLEA agency. Also, no information was published by the school that drug tests will be conducted on students before they can sit for their exams.
Notably, posts or information from 'LASU Memes 09076960103' should be regarded as fun-filled information not serious. Also, in the post, if you check the grammar and sentence construction well, it is evident that it was edited and not constructed properly as it can be seen in the screenshot and the capitalization, punctuation etc. Again, the hashtag: #LasuSaysNoToDrugs cannot be found on the Twitter app as seen in this screenshot.
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