Hajj Chronicles has raised the alarm over what it describes as a growing surge of fake news and coordinated misinformation targeted at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and its leadership.
The publisher of Hajj Chronicles, Ibrahim Yusuf, said what initially appeared to be routine media scrutiny has now evolved into a systematic pattern of distorted narratives, recycled allegations, and synchronised publications aimed at undermining public confidence in the Commission.
According to Yusuf, the Commission has for months observed multiple media platforms circulating nearly identical reports, often released simultaneously to drive online traction and fuel public outrage.
Analysts monitoring the trend describe it as a “perception war” designed to shape negative opinions before factual information is available.
Hajj Chronicles reports that ongoing reviews indicate many of the circulating claims rely on anonymous sources, unverified documents, and misrepresented internal discussions, which are then amplified on social media.
The outlet notes that some disgruntled stakeholders within the Hajj ecosystem may also be contributing rumours in an attempt to influence ongoing reforms.
Investigations suggest that some of the circulating reports rely heavily on anonymous claims, unverified documents, and misrepresented internal discussions, which are later amplified across social media.
It notes that certain disgruntled stakeholders within the Hajj ecosystem may also be feeding rumours into the public domain to influence ongoing reforms.
It further reveals that an internal review is already underway to identify the origin of misleading leaks and clarify any misrepresented memos.
Investigations emphasized that names will only be released after due verification to avoid unfairly maligning staff.
Newsroom sources allege that Nuruddeen Abdallah, a veteran journalist and former daily trust staff, coordinates the network behind the attacks. Others alleged to be part of the operation include Jaafar Jaafar owner of daily Nigerian, Yakubu Musa Fagge owner of Lumana Radio, Sadiq Abdullateef of Newspoint, Shehu Isa, and Apex news.
The group also uses other platforms such as 21st Century Chronicle, owned by Mahmud Jega, and Apex News, run by Maliki Anthony, to amplify negative stories and generate online traction.
A newsroom insider told this paper that “drafts by Nuruddeen are circulated in private groups before publication so all outlets use the same framing.” Payments reportedly move through disguised “editorial sponsorships” or “project support fees.”
Media experts interviewed by Hajj Chronicles warn that this trend reflects a deeper challenge in Nigeria’s media environment paid narratives disguised as journalism, often driven by political or financial motives.
A veteran Abuja editor cautioned that repeated falsehoods across several outlets can easily be mistaken for truth by the public.
NAHCON emphasized that while it welcomes constructive criticism and responsible journalism, the spread of fake news about a sensitive national religious operation can undermine public trust, disrupt planning, and mislead pilgrims.
As investigations continue, the commission urges journalists, media platforms, and the public to verify information, rely on official sources, and uphold ethical reporting standards.
“Reforms will only succeed when truth is not drowned out by manufactured narratives,” a NAHCON official told Hajj Chronicles.
“We remain committed to transparency, and we expect the media to uphold the same standard.”
