The Anambra State Government said its attention has been drawn to a false and malicious report circulating across social media and published by Punch Newspapers and other media outlets, claiming that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has passed a “New Burial Law” imposing outrageous restrictions, including a ban on the use of cows and goats at condolence visits.
According to Law Mefor, PhD., Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, “This report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate act of misinformation”.
“For the record:
No new burial law has been passed by Governor Soludo’s administration. The subsisting Anambra Burial Law is the 2019 law signed by former Governor Willie Obiano.”
“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.”
“It is disappointing and irresponsible that established media houses like Punch Newspapers would abandon basic verification and become conduits for viral fake news. Journalism demands accuracy, balance, and a duty to verify claims before publication. By failing to do so, these outlets have undermined public trust and contributed to the spread of misinformation.”
“The Anambra State Government urges the public to disregard this fake news in its entirety. We call on media organizations to uphold professional standards and desist from publishing unverified reports that can cause public disaffection.”
“Members of the public are advised to rely only on official communication channels of the Anambra State Government for accurate information on government policy.”