News / Africa
Nigeria govt dismisses killer phone number
16 Sep 2011 at 07:14hrs | Views
Lagos - Nigeria's government is assuring people in Africa's most populous nation: a phone call can't kill you.
A text message has spread across the oil-rich country in recent days, warning that people will die if they answer cellphone calls from 09141. The widespread fear forced the Nigerian Communications Commission to issue a statement on Wednesday saying it is "unimaginable that somebody will die while receiving a call".
Commission spokesperson Reuben Muoka says: "It is only very gullible people that will believe such a rumour."
Text message panics in Nigeria have included rumours of bombings and rumours that acid rain from seasonal dust storms can burn people alive. The campaigns are aided by poor education and lack of faith in the government.
A call to the number on Thursday resulted in no fatalities.
A text message has spread across the oil-rich country in recent days, warning that people will die if they answer cellphone calls from 09141. The widespread fear forced the Nigerian Communications Commission to issue a statement on Wednesday saying it is "unimaginable that somebody will die while receiving a call".
Commission spokesperson Reuben Muoka says: "It is only very gullible people that will believe such a rumour."
Text message panics in Nigeria have included rumours of bombings and rumours that acid rain from seasonal dust storms can burn people alive. The campaigns are aided by poor education and lack of faith in the government.
A call to the number on Thursday resulted in no fatalities.
Source - AP
