In an unsettling turn of events that highlights the dangerous power of misinformation in the digital age, the Edo State Police Command has taken decisive action against a local resident accused of inciting mass public fear. Ernest Ugbomoiko, a 42-year-old man from the Afuze community, was taken into custody after authorities traced a series of alarming viral messages back to his social media accounts. The posts, which circulated rapidly across various online platforms, painted a terrifying picture of supposed kidnappings involving schoolchildren. By naming specific, vulnerable communities—including Afuze, Ehor, Otuo, Agbede, and Igueben—the suspect managed to bypass the healthy skepticism…

Higher education stands at a precarious juncture. As the digital age accelerates, the traditional role of universities—once seen as ivory towers of objective truth—is being challenged by a chaotic landscape of online misinformation and polarized echo chambers. The New Times report highlights an urgent imperative: universities must move beyond mere degree-granting and actively reshape how they approach civic education. It is no longer enough to produce graduates who are technically proficient in their chosen fields; they must also be equipped with the discerning intellect necessary to navigate a society where truth is increasingly malleable and algorithms dictate the flow of…