On April 17, 2025, Sahara Reporters, a well-known online news platform founded by activist Omoyele Sowore, published a story claiming that the convoy of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, killed a seven-year-old girl during a visit to Akure, Ondo State. The report alleged that the tragic incident occurred while the First Lady was in the state to distribute empowerment materials.
The news quickly went viral, sparking outrage, grief, and confusion among Nigerians. However, it didn’t take long before the Ondo State Police Command stepped in to debunk the report, labeling it as completely false, reckless, and baseless. Their investigation revealed that the child’s death was the result of a hit-and-run accident involving a white Lexus vehicle with no ties to the First Lady or her convoy.
Police Statement Shreds Sahara Reporters’ Claim
The Ondo State Police Command issued a detailed press release with reference number AZ:5280/ONS/PPRO/VOL.1/247, directly refuting the Sahara Reporters article. According to the statement, eyewitnesses confirmed that the actual culprit was an unregistered white Lexus car, which fled the scene after the tragic hit-and-run. A witness on a motorcycle even attempted to pursue the vehicle immediately after the incident.
The police also highlighted that Sahara Reporters got the victim’s age wrong, reporting her as 9 years old, whereas her parents confirmed she was 7. “Even in tragedy, Sahara Reporters couldn’t get their facts straight,” the statement read. The Commissioner of Police visited the grieving family personally, confirming that the First Lady’s convoy had no involvement in the incident.
Another Falsehood in the Same Report: Mistaken Location of Kidnapping
In a shocking twist, Sahara Reporters also falsely reported that a kidnapping incident took place in Ondo State on the same day. The police clarified that the said incident actually happened in Ugbogui, near Ohosu, in neighboring Edo State — a completely different jurisdiction. This added another layer of falsehood to what is now being described as one of the most irresponsible news publications of 2025.
Security authorities in Edo confirmed the actual location, further discrediting Sahara Reporters’ account. This recurring inaccuracy has cast a long shadow over the publication’s editorial standards and has sparked renewed calls for responsible journalism in Nigeria.
History of False Reporting: A Troubling Pattern
This is not the first time Sahara Reporters has been accused of publishing misleading or outright false stories. In February 2025, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) debunked a report alleging that it spent ₦7.7 billion on consultancy and over ₦580 million on a five-day training in London. The NCDMB described the article as “false and malicious.”
Similarly, in April 2024, Asasco Nigeria Limited threatened legal action against Sahara Reporters for a defamatory report that falsely claimed the company failed to execute projects worth ₦200 million. And in January 2025, the Plateau State Government condemned a fabricated story about a bomb blast in Jos Terminus Market, demanding a public apology for the panic the false news caused.
Older Allegations Still Haunt the Platform
Sahara Reporters’ credibility has long been in question. In March 2020, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) accused the platform of falsely reporting a ₦1 billion project fund scam, calling the story a complete fabrication. Earlier, in December 2013, the Nigerian Army alleged that Sahara Reporters was acting as a propaganda tool for Boko Haram — a grave accusation that intensified the scrutiny on the platform’s motives and integrity.
Each of these incidents points to a consistent trend: the platform’s penchant for sensationalism at the expense of truth. Despite previous warnings and legal threats, it appears Sahara Reporters has yet to adjust its editorial compass.
Public Reaction and Official Response
The most recent false report has triggered widespread condemnation across social media and from various civil society groups. Many Nigerians are now calling for regulatory sanctions against Sahara Reporters and demanding public accountability from its leadership.
The Ondo State Police Command took the unusual step of publishing its official contact numbers for any Nigerian—home or abroad—to verify the truth directly:
Within Nigeria: 07034313903
Outside Nigeria: +234 7034313903
The transparency move is being praised nationwide as a model for how state institutions should respond to misinformation.
A Call for Accountability and Responsible Journalism
This latest journalistic blunder raises urgent questions about media ethics in Nigeria. With a growing appetite for digital news, platforms like Sahara Reporters wield tremendous influence. When they publish false stories, the damage is not just reputational—it’s emotional, social, and even political.
As the Ondo State Police Command continues its search for the real perpetrator of the hit-and-run, the nation must also search its conscience. Media freedom is essential in a democracy, but so is media responsibility. It’s time for Sahara Reporters to reflect deeply, retract the offending stories, issue public apologies, and take corrective measures—or risk losing what little credibility it has left.
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