Popular daily, THISDAY has said it never published a frontpage story in which Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma declared “free marriage” between Fulani settlers and Imo ladies.
In a statement signed by its Managing Director, Eniola Bello, the newspaper said that the supposed frontpage story emerged after some “unscrupulous people” manipulated the digital copy of its Friday edition.
This manipulated version had circulated on some social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.
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THISDAY’s statement read, “The attention of the Management of THISDAY has been drawn to a fake version of our digital edition making the rounds on some social media platforms.
“With the headline: ‘Shocking: Uzodinma declares Free Marriage Between Fulani Settlers and Imo Ladies’, this fake version of our digital edition is being circulated on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms.
“We wish to state that THISDAY at no time published the said story. Our lead story on Friday, August 27, was, ‘Buhari Elated as NNPC Breaks Jinx, Declares N287bn Profit, First in 44 Years’.
“Sadly, these merchants of fake news have chosen to leverage on the credibility and integrity of THISDAY to ply their trade.
“We completely reject this poor attempt by some unscrupulous people at impersonating our brand and identity in pursuit of whatever agenda they may have, by seeking to disseminate fake news to members of the public as emanating from THISDAY.”
The newspaper added that anyone still in doubt would do well to check the hardcopy of its Friday edition or visit its website containing the authentic digital version for confirmation.
THISDAY called on security agencies to help unmask the counterfeiters behind the “forgery” and bring them to book.