Nigeria, Nov. 15 -- In an era when information flows faster than the speed of fact-checking, death hoaxes have become one of the more pernicious, and emotionally damaging, trends in Nigeria. These hoaxes are not mere pranks; they prey on our grief, manipulate our emotions, and reflect a deeper crisis in our media ecosystem. The recent false report that former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has died is the latest damaging reminder of how lethal misinformation can be.

On November 14, 2025, alarming reports spread across social media suggesting that Governor Willie Obiano had died in London. Within hours, the rumor spiraled. But just as quickly, the story unraveled.

Obiano himself took to his verified Facebook page to say, "I am aliv...