Gbedu 100.1 FM apologizes after false alert

Gbedu 100.1 FM, a Lagos-based radio station, broadcast a false security alert on Sunday that sparked widespread panic across Nigeria's commercial capital. The alert, aired during a live program, claimed an imminent attack by unidentified gunmen, prompting listeners to flee homes and streets in areas like Ikeja and Agege. Social media posts captured traffic gridlock and chaotic scenes as residents abandoned vehicles. The station's anchor, identified in posts as DJ Angel, read the unverified message on air around 7 p.m. local time, urging listeners to "take cover immediately." Eyewitness accounts on X described people running from markets and churches, with one video showing a crowd surging through a Lagos bridge amid honking cars. The alert originated from an anonymous WhatsApp forward, which Gbedu aired without fact-checking, according to the station's later statement. Lagos State Police Command swiftly condemned the broadcast as "dangerous misinformation" in a statement Monday. Police spokesperson SP Benjamin Hundeyin said the false alert led to "unnecessary panic and at least one confirmed death," attributing the fatality to a stampede in a crowded neighborhood. Officers arrested three individuals linked to spreading the original hoax via social media, though no station staff were detained. Gbedu 100.1 FM issued an on-air apology Monday morning, with management acknowledging the error. "We deeply regret broadcasting unverified information that caused distress and loss of life," station director Olamide Oladipo said in the apology, posted to the station's X and Instagram accounts. The statement noted police briefing them on the death toll and promised stricter verification protocols. (station post) Nigeria's radio sector has faced repeated scrutiny over fake news, especially security alerts amid ongoing banditry and kidnappings in the north. In 2024, the National Broadcasting Commission fined stations N5 million each for similar lapses, citing risks to public safety. Gbedu's incident drew comparisons to a 2023 Beat FM broadcast that prompted evacuations in Abuja. Listeners reacted angrily online, with #GbeduHoax trending in Lagos. "Radio stations are turning into panic merchants," tweeted user @LagosHustler, amassing 12,000 likes. Gbedu management met with police Tuesday to discuss reparations for affected families, per Hundeyin's update. The station suspended DJ Angel pending an internal probe. Police urged citizens to verify alerts via official channels like @LagosPoliceNG on X before sharing. Gbedu recommenced normal programming post-apology, but with a new on-air disclaimer policy. NBC announced a review of all Lagos stations Wednesday, potentially imposing fines up to N10 million.