The Anambra State Government has dismissed reports claiming that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo introduced a new burial law banning the use of cows and goats during condolence visits, describing the reports as false and misleading.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 19, the state Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, said the reports circulating on social media and published by some media organisations were entirely fabricated.
Mefor clarified that no new burial law had been enacted by the Soludo administration, noting that the subsisting burial law in Anambra State remained the 2019 law signed by former governor Willie Obiano.
READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests Three for Drug Trafficking in Anambra, Kwara
According to him, claims that the law prohibits the use of cows and goats at condolence visits are not contained in any section of the existing legislation.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The claims being circulated are not contained in any section of the 2019 Anambra Burial Law. The assertion that cows and goats are banned at condolence visits is a fabrication designed to mislead the public and incite unnecessary outrage,” the statement said.
Read Also
The commissioner criticised media outlets that published the reports without verification, accusing them of contributing to the spread of misinformation.
“It is disappointing and irresponsible that established media houses would abandon basic verification and become conduits for viral fake news,” he said.
Mefor stated that journalism required accuracy, balance and proper verification before publication, adding that the dissemination of unverified claims undermined public trust.
The state government urged residents and members of the public to disregard the reports and rely only on official communication channels for information relating to government policies.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We call on media organisations to uphold professional standards and desist from publishing unverified reports that can cause public disaffection,” the statement added.
