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Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
A photo of a tweet stating that Twitter has promised to respect the laws and sovereignty of Nigeria circulated on social media was alleged to have originated from the verified public policy account of the micro blogging platform.
This image was circulated amidst a ban placed on Twitter in Nigeria by its president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Findings by the FactCheckHub showed that the photo is a manipulated image and therefore false.
The photo shared on WhatsApp was also posted on Twitter by a user with name and handle Fulani son, @NigeriaFirst11 respectively.
A reverse image search done by the FactCheckHub also showed that the image was posted on Nairaland forum, however multiple users on the platform have commented that it is a ‘fake’.
The claim shared on Twitter by user Fulani son.
THE CLAIM
That Twitter through its public policy account made this statement:
“We’re committed to peace, progress and freedom of speech of the Nigerian people. We have reviewed our actions and are in communication with the Nigerian Government and promise to respect the laws and sovereignty of Nigeria #KeepItOn”.
THE FINDINGS
The Factcheckhub recently debunked a claim where a manipulated image was used to falsely say Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tweeted that the Nigeria president Buhari cannot think properly and may need medical attention.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey at a tech hub in Lagos when he visited Nigeria in 2019. Photo: Jack Dorsey.
The image under verification is presented to look like a screenshot of a tweet from Twitter public policy account.
A scrutiny shows that the image has been manipulated. The “@” sign which should have preceded the handle “Policy” – which is the account for Twitter public policy – is missing.
Secondly, the icon that comes up whenever the hashtag #KeepItOn is used is also missing.
As at 1:15pm of June 7, the FactCheckHub checked and the icon has not been deactivated by Twitter, which means it is still functional.
L-R: The fake tweet showing the inconsistencies and a tweet grabbed from Twitter Policy account.
In addition, the tweet in question is not on the policy handle.
The last post with regards to Nigeria Twitter ban was made on June 5, 2021 which stated they were concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria and access to Open internet is essential human right in a modern society.
Even though signs like the removing of #EndSARS logo, deleting of some of the separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu tweet and a press release from government which had a milder tone indicate that the Nigerian Government and Twitter maybe having conversation, the above tweet is not from Twitter as purported.
THE VERDICT
The tweet in question is not from Twitter Public Policy as purported, it is a manipulated image, therefore it is FALSE.
A photo of a tweet stating that the president of Nigeria is suffering from the ‘inability to think properly’ which has gone viral on social media was alleged to have originated from the verified Twitter account of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
This image was circulated amidst a ban placed on Twitter in Nigeria by its president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Findings by the FactCheckHub show that the image is manipulated and therefore false.
The manipulated image circulating on social media.
THE CLAIM
That Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tweeted that President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari is suffering from the inability to think properly and may need medical check-up.
The image under verification is presented to look like a screenshot of a tweet. It has the photo of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, it was alleged to have been posted on June 4, 21 at 10:42am and has been retweeted 2.6 million times with 3.7 million likes. The account is @MarkZuckerberg and it has the blue verification badge.
The tweet purported reads “The Nigerian President needs medical check-up; he may be suffering from the inability to think”.
Findings by the Factcheckhub show that the account @MarkZuckerberg is suspended for violating twitter rules, the when and why could not be ascertained.
The suspended account.
However, that is not Zuckerberg, the Facebook CEO’s handle. He is on Twitter as @Finkd.
Even though the account has been in existence since 2009, it is almost dormant. The last tweet was in 2012.
Secondly, he is not verified.
To determine that it is the authentic account of Zuckerberg the FactCheckHub conducted a google search on Zuckerberg twitter and multiple reports here, here and here made reference to @Finkd as his account.
One of the reports which talked about Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey [@jack] unfollowing Zuckerberg cited this handle.
In addition, Big Tech Alert an account that keeps track of the activities of tech CEO’s and top executives also has @Finkd on its list.
When Jack unfollowed the @finkd, Twitter public relations account, replied the Big Tech Alert update with a goat emoji.
Goat icon in social media speak, is also use to represent the abbreviation for Greatest Of All Time [GOAT]. It is meant to refer to or describe the person who has performed better than anyone else ever in their field.
Twitter communication reacts to the update with a goat emoji.
Furthermore, from the FactCheckHub audit of the followers of @Finkd, Facebook is following the account along with silicon valley bigwigs like Youtube’s Chief Business officer, Robert Kyncl; Lyft co-founder, Gagan Biyani; Microsoft President, Brad Smith; Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai among others.
Facebook and tech bigwigs follow @Finkd on Twitter.
The lack of verification of the account may or may not be unconnected with the silent rift between the two tech bosses who over time have had difference of opinion on multiple fronts; from how to run their platforms, polices on political advertisements, tackling of fake news and so on.
Jack reportedly said he does not use any Facebook product while Zuckerberg reportedly attempted to buy Twitter in 2008.
Background to the misinformation
On June 1, 2021, Buhari made a twitter thread after receiving briefing from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
Yakubu had updated him on series of attacks on electoral facilities across the country, particularly the south East region.
Some groups in the region largely made up of Igbos are agitating for secession, this has led to series of conflicts which sometimes results to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
In 1967, the same region had attempted to secede by forming Biafra Nation, this led to 30 month-long civil war which Buhari a retired military general had fought in.
The war led to death and displacement of millions of persons.
In his response to the INEC boss, which was tweeted, Buhari referred to the civil war while talking of how insurrection will be dealt with, this sparked outrage, the tweet was reported by multiple accounts and it was taken down by Twitter for violating it policies.
This led to the unfolding of several events, one of which is the ban on Twitter in the country which have been described by those opposing it as not constitutional. Another is the avalanche of misinformation circulating on social media.
THE VERDICT
The claim that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tweeted that President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari is suffering from the inability to think properly and may need medical check-up is FALSE. The image was manipulated and the account cited does not belong to Zuckerberg.
FEBRUARY 15, 2021. Ajani Olaide, a resident of Shasha community narrated how his uncle was killed during the ethnic crisis that ensued between Hausa traders and the Yoruba ethnic group, in Oyo State. It was hard to believe that the end had come for the deceased.
He had attempted settling a dispute between a pregnant Yoruba woman and a male trader of Hausa extraction, whose farm produce spilled to the entrance of the said woman’s outlet. But, suddenly the deceased was hit from behind by another northerner, and he died a peacemaker.
The incident began on 11th February, 2021 in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, South-West Nigeria. It later became an issue of national interest.
“He tried to resolve a misunderstanding between a Hausa trader and a pregnant Yoruba woman when he was hit from behind by another Hausaman. And he died,” Olaide stated on the verified Facebook handle of the Television Continental.
It was a time the country was grappling with COVID-19 pandemic. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had issued public health advisory to alert the public against the implication of non-adherence to the rolled out preventive measures.
But amidst the pandemic, inter-communal crisis between the Fulani livestock pastoralists and the Yoruba crop farmers intensified.
The crisis in Oyo State led to complete disregard for the public safety guidelines prescribed by the NCDC. Thus, the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria kept rising, despite inadequate health infrastructures.
Between December 2020 and 10th January, 2021, NCDC had recorded 1,000 confirmed cases milestone.
As of January, 2021, 1,358 deaths were already captured by the Centre with 100,087 confirmed cases.
Still, the anxiety for the COVID-19 cure exacerbated the spread of disinformation. Some health experts described this as ‘infodemic’. The social media became major tool for the spread of misinformation about the pandemic.
Twitter users precisely amplified false information on the Oyo crisis during the pandemic, a situation capable of creating division in the country.
When the crisis intensified, the public were more interested in personal safety than compliance with the COVID-19 public safety guide – an issue made worse by the spread of false information.
Non-compliance to the public safety guideline, according to the Centre, was worsening the public health response efforts targeted to limiting the continued spread of the disease.
As such, the ethnic crisis made compliance more problematic, implying that a civil war or communal unrest, could cause a wider spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Laz Ude, public health practitioner and development expert, shared similar position during an interview with The FactCheck Hub.
In his opinion, it was natural for humans to seek protection in whatever forms necessary during unrest, thus, compliance to the guidelines could be difficult.
“During a period of crisis or war, the human natural instinct is safety and survival, protection from being killed. So observing covid-19 protocols is not a realistic expectation,” he stated.
Twitter ignites misinformation, spiking ethnic crisis during COVID-19
The social media platform placed the ethnic groups at the cliff. Northern Nigerians took to social media to condemn the attacks, and even threatened to retaliate by attacking Southerners resident in the north. Findings later showed part of the video shared during the incident was false.
For instance, in the heat of the occurrence, on February 12, a video surfaced on Twitter showing an alleged gruesome killing of northerners. The gory video shows footage of the northerners being set ablaze. It was shared by @AM_Saleeem on February 13.
The 45-second video shows that few of the victims were still alive before they were subsequently lynched. The video, as of the time of filing this article, has garnered over 46, 000 views, shared by almost 3, 000 persons.
The same footage was also shared by @El_abdool and @SirTafawaBalewa. It has been viewed over 46,000 and shared 1,000 times via social media accounts. Still, it was an old video, not related to the Oyo crisis but meant to incite a violent clash in the country during the pandemic.
Contrary to the false claim, the incident occurred in Edo State, on February 8, a different state, some 189.02 kilometres away from Oyo state.
“The incident happened in Ogheghe Community, Ovia South-West, Edo State. Four persons were involved and they were alleged to have been caught with firearms which they could not give reasons why they bore arms. They were not with any government recognised security organisation,” Chidi Nwabuzor, the Police spokesperson told this reporter.
Meanwhile, analysis of the Twitter accounts showed the three handles which conveyed the misleading information have organic followers.
Google Earth Photograph shows the distance apart (189.02 km) from where the old footage was used by Twitter users to Amplify Oyo inter-ethnic crisis in the pandemic. Photo: Olugbenga Adanikin, The ICIR
How it started
Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise called Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba activist has been at the centre of the crisis. On 23rd January, 2021, he was applauded by the Yoruba local farmers for intervening in the ethnic clashes that had claimed lives in the recent past. At the public outing, he was repeatedly captured on national television not complying with the pandemic safety guideline.
“The Fulani kidnappers cannot seize our lands from us. Our land rightly belongs to us…..,” Igboho, stated while addressing a massive crowd in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area (LGA), of the state.
Analysis of the video showed non-compliance with the safety protocols. The gathering defied the recommended two-metre social distancing, as well as other measures including the use of face masks to prevent community spread of the virus. The video has been viewed 73,330 as of May 28, 2021.
The activist warned the Fulani herders accused of kidnappings and asked them to vacate Igangan community in seven days. The notice did not exclude the Fulani clan head, also known as Seriki Salihu Abdulkadir. Shortly after, the clan head was attacked, his home, cars, and other properties set ablaze, allegedly at the instance of the activist.
As of date, there is no publicly verifiable evidence to establish that the activist was responsible for the attack. However, there was reprisal. Abdulakadir also left the abode forcefully.
Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdulkadir’s House Set Ablaze in Igangan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Photo Credit: Readerslogue
Igboho fake Twitter account becomes misinformation tool to aggravate ethnic crisis during COVID-19
Similarly, findings showed that social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook and YouTube became the vehicles to amplify voice of the Yoruba activist. They also served as channels to indirectly achieve a predetermined objective of ethnic division.
For instance, a major Twitter handle, now suspended @SundayIgboho0 was created in the name of Igboho. For about a month, the handle reeled out information as if it directly came from the activist. Besides unverified handles, the most popular of them posted photographs of reprisal attacks such as when the activist’s home was set ablaze and other misleading information.
A section of the media fell for the source as a reliable one until it was deleted following public disclaimer by the activist.
As of the period, the major handle was archived by this reporter having realised the danger it was capable of. The Yoruba activist later denied the Twitter handle when it became a cause for worry before it was eventually suspended.
Sunday Adeyemo’s (Sunday Igboho) Fake Twitter Account before it was suspended by Twitter
Meanwhile, while tweets were made via the handle, hashtags such as #Stopthekillings, #StopkillingNortherners #SundayIgboho were trending with some misleading videos and photographs shared to spike ethnic tension. The heat of the initial occurrence indirectly led to another communal clash in Shasha, Akinyele LGA of the state.
Igbo secessionist latch on crisis to promote secession
On January 27, NnamdiKanu, leader of the South Eastern secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) latched on the ethnic tension in a video posted on YouTube. It was to further promote his pending agenda of seeing the southeast region secede from Nigeria to create a new nation known as Biafra.
“Do you want, let’s say Ogbomoso to be renamed a Fulani name? Do you want Onitsha to also be renamed Fulani name? Forget all the nonsense about unity of Nigeria,” an 18- minute footage dominated by Nnamdi Kanu showed in part. “All they (Fulani) are uniting against is your common interest.”
“Unless you prefer epileptic power supply, or you chose to live your life without running water, abject poverty or deprivation, your only alternative is a revolution.”
Somehow, this message was posted five days after the Yoruba activist issued warning to the Fulani group, resident in the South West state to vacate the area.
Conclusively, Dr. Eze, submitted that the pandemic would potentially lead to further spread of the disease, and other communicable ailments, except the crisis is nipped in the bud.
This publication was produced as part of IWPR’s Africa Resilience Network (ARN) programme, administered in partnership with the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and Africa Uncensored. For more information on ARN, please visit the ARN site.
A Special Assistant on New Media to Nigeria’s Senate President Abubakar Usman on June 2, 2021 claimed that First Bank of Nigeria has closed all its “81” branches in the South East region of the country.
The findings by the FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Usman with the username @MrAbuSidiq made the now-deleted post on his verified account at 9:41 AM on Wednesday.
He said “First Bank temporarily closes 81 of their branches in the south east.”
Usman alluded that the crisis in the region is responsible. He said “When you host a party in your living room, you have to be ready to clean up when those who came to enjoy have gone.”
Usman was not alone. Multiple accounts also tweeted similar contents. Like Twitter user Buhari Prodigal Daughter with the user name @johnnysleek posted “First Bank has taken the decision to close all 65 branches in South East, they can now have their Biafra.
For several hours on June 2, “First Bank” trended in Nigeria with some comments drawing parallels with the North East region of the country, that despite the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency, banks did not close.
As at 3:27pm, it was trending at number 14 on Twitter.
First Bank trended in Nigeria after misinformation circulates online.
Usman, Johnny were alluding that the closure is due to the current spate of unrest in the region.
In recent times, the region have been plagued with incessant clashes and attacks which have led to the death of security officials, civilians, and destruction of government infrastructure.
What prompted the misinformation on the closure?
The First Bank of Nigeria at the dawn of May 31, 2021 announced the temporary shutdown of its branches in the South East region of the country.
In a now unavailable tweet, archived here the bank noted that the closure will be for “today” while listing the affected branches. Today here, being May 31 when the tweet was made.
The FactCheckHub observed the shutting down of the First Bank branches in the region could be connected to the sit-at-home order made by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The bank was not alone, as multiple shops were closed and residents stockpiled foodstuff as a precautionary measure.
First Bank tweet announcing the branch closure in South East region.
The sit-at-home order was meant as a remembrance day for the people who fought on the Biafran side during the Nigerian civil war.
On May 30, 1967, a Lt Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu announced the separation of Biafra from Nigeria. The announcement signified the commencement of the civil war which lasted till 1970.
Overtime, May 30 has come to be an unofficial Biafra Remembrance Day by the people in the region.
Earlier on, the outlawed group, IPOB had on Tuesday, May 4, announced this year’s sit-at-home will hold on Monday, May 31 and not Sunday, May 30 as it earlier announced.
This change could be due to May 30 which falls on a Sunday and the predominantly Christian region would have been at home and the impact of the subtle powerplay would have been contentious.
Various news media platforms reported how activities were paralysed as a result of the sit-at-home order.
However, even though the tweet by the bank stated “today”, the graphics cards attached to the tweet with the lists of closed banks have “List of closed branches till further notice” as their headlines.
The use of the phrase which is contradictory with the tweet caption indicates that the situation will not change until another announcement is made. This may have given credence to the misinformation that permeated the social media space and is also a plausible reason why the tweet from the bank is no longer available.
Meanwhile, the First Bank in a statement signed by its Media and Relations Officer, Modupe Orunmuyi and made available to the FactCheckHub stated that South East branches of the bank are fully opened.
“This is to inform the public that our South East branches are fully open for business. Please disregard any news making the rounds that is contrary to this,” her statement read.
Similarly, Charles Nwogu, a resident of Aba in Abia State, which is one of the affected states in the region told the FactCheckHub that although the First Bank in his area closed on May 31 but it is currently opened for business activities.
The FactCheckHub reached out to Usman and Johnny to find out why they posted a 48-hours old information as new; they are yet to respond.
THE VERDICT
The claim that owning to the recent spate of crisis, the First Bank has closed it branches in South East region of Nigeria is MISLEADING. This is because the bank closure was for a single day May 31, 2021 and they have already re-opened for business before individuals started sharing it as a new event. It was two days stale.
A TWITTER post shared on May 24, by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of a separatist group in Nigeria known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) claimed that “ISWAP, Boko Haram and Fulani boys” go around in public with AK47 guns without hiding.
Kanu attached a picture of some men wearing turban carrying rifles in an open field surrounded by onlookers to the tweet which had gathered 6,256 retweets and 5,979 likes as of 4pm of May 27.
“ISWAP/BH #Fulani boys chilling in public, in broad daylight with AK47, educating fellow #Fulani men on their pathway to the Atlantic Ocean. No army, no police. No air strikes, no shoot at sight. No @CatrionaLaing1
Meanwhile, in Biafraland, young men are being shot at sight,” the tweet read.
THE CLAIM
The photo shows ISWAP, Boko Haram, Fulani boys going about with guns in Nigeria.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by the FactCheckhub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Nnamdi Kanu is notorious for sharing fake and misleading contents on his social media pages. The FactCheckHub had earlier fact-checked some of his claims here and here which were inaccurate.
A Google reverse image search conducted by the FactCheckHub shows the image was on the internet before Nnamdi Kanu tweeted it on his page.
Further findings show that the picture emanated from Mali, when a jihadist group known as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) were implementing Sharia law by punishing three alleged thieves in a part of Mali.
A report by Long War Journal noted that the Islamic State released the photos within its weekly Al-Naba newsletter purporting to show its men enacting hudud punishments [or punishments mandated within Sharia law].
Similarly, a local source in Tin-Hama in Mali disclosed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the said armed men drummed up a crowd on May 2, a market day, and cut the limbs of three men they paraded as thieves.
The paper reported that UN peacekeepers in Mali have offered to help bring to justice the jihadists behind the amputation.
The photo of some men on turban carrying rifles in an open field surrounded by onlookers shared by Nnamdi Kanu is from Mali and not Nigeria; thus making the claim MISLEADING.
A news report shared online claimed that the current Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah recently described the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu as a prophet and a man of truth.
The ICIR sighted the story after it was shared in response to a tweet by Kanu on May 15, 2021. The story claims that Kukah referred to the separatist leader as a “prophet and a man of truth, and he now believes him.”
The story also quotes the bishop as saying, “Until the narrative changes, I will support anything coming from Nnamdi Kanu. I have said it before, let the Igbo man lead Nigeria for four years, am sure the different will be very clear.”
Who is Nnamdi Kanu?
Nnamdi Kanu is a British-based Nigerian who is fighting for Biafra secession. He is the leader of IPOB.
Kanu seeks to create an independent state for the people of the South-Eastern Region of Nigeria using IPOB.
Kanu is also the director of United Kingdom-based radio station named Radio Biafra.
He was arrested on treason charges in Lagos, Nigeria, on 14 October 2015 and detained for more than a year, despite various court orders that ruled for his release.
Kanu was released on bail from prison on April 28, 2017, after a public outcry that greeted the Buhari-led government which had ignored court orders over his release.
He relocated from Nigeria after soldiers of the Nigerian Army, in 2017, attacked his home.
He has been attacking the Nigerian government using various social media platforms.
FINDINGS
The ICIR found the claim to be FALSE.
The story was published in two online blogs: NewZander.com and 9newsng.com, on June 21, 2020.
It was also found on Youtube, Facebook, Nairaland and Twitter.
The ICIR’s checks on the website of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto that publishes all statements credited to Bishop Kukah about Kanu found no traces of the claim being shared online.
Director of Communication of the Sokoto diocese Chris Omotosho, a priest, told The ICIR that Bishop Kukah never made the claim being credited to him on Kanu.
VERDICT
The claim that Bishop Hassan Kukah referred to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu as a prophet and a man of truth and he now believes him is FALSE; the bishop denied making the claim.
A few hours after the death of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ibrahim Attahiru in a military air crash in Kaduna, a viral statement surfaced online, claiming that he said over his dead body would there be Biafran and Oduduwa nations.
The viral statement, which surfaced online immediately after confirming his death, claimed that the COAS Lt. -Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru said he would not allow those trying to break out of Nigeria for their nations to succeed, stressing that the Nigerian Army had resolved to deal with secessionists threatening the peace of the country.
The claim published on the 23rd of March, 2021 by The Republic News and SundiataPost, and currently being widely shared on Facebook and Twitter after his death, alleged that Attahiru had said over his death would Oduduwa and Biafra emerged as new nations.
The False report being shared on WhatsApp
It is also being shared on WhatsApp with The Republican News link.
While the report on SundiataPost blog seems to have been replaced with a story about the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s statement on the COAS’ death, it still appears on Google search.
Sundiatapost on Google search
Attahiru died in a plane crash on Friday, May 21, 2021 en route to Kaduna State.
The aircraft was conveying him and 10 others, including three brigadiers general, two majors, two flight lieutenants, two sergeants and another crew member.
According to reports, they were travelling to Kaduna State for the Passing Out Parade ceremony of newly recruited military personnel scheduled on Saturday.
FINDINGS
The ICIR found the claim to be FALSE.
Two national newspapers crosschecked by The ICIR, which reported the event on the 23rd of March, 2021, had no quote of Oduduwa Republic or Biafra in the reports being linked to Attahiru.
They reported that the late COAS had said that the Nigerian Army would soon surmount attempts by some individuals to compromise the country’s territorial integrity by the declaration of sovereignty on behalf of ethnic nationalities in the country.
Attahiru, according to the national dailies, had, during the first Commanding Officers’ Workshop 2021 with the theme, ‘Repositioning the Nigerian Army to Defeat Contemporary Adversaries’ in a Joint Environment in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, promised to deal with security threats across the country.
Late Chief of Army Staff Attahiru Ibrahim
He was reported to have said, “The Nigerian Army under my leadership would remain proactive and jointly work with other security agencies to deal with threats facing the nation decisively.
“The Nigerian Army under my watch remains resolute and is poised more than ever before to decisively deal with individuals or groups that threaten the peace, security and stability of our great nation,” he said.
Army spokesperson Mohammed Yerima’s statement released on the event did not contain the said quotes. There was also no evidence that he mentioned Biafra and Oduduwa in his speeches since he assumed office in February this year till his death.
VERDICT
The claim that the late COAS Attahiru Ibrahim, in his presentation at an Army event in Uyo, said that he would not allow Biafra and Oduduwa to emerge as new nations as long as he was alive is FALSE. Checks carried out by The ICIR did not find any documents or information where the late COAS made mention of Biafra and Oduduwa in his speech.
The statement also released by the Army after the event did not contain such reference credited to the late COAS.
A post circulating on WhatsApp claimed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved free online company registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for all self-employed and business owners. This, it said, is inclusive of several benefits.
This registration, the post claims, come with benefits that include a free trip to the United Kingdom, N50,000 cash, free international trade among 0thers. The post which was retrieved from a WhatsApp group on May 21, 2021, asked people to enrol for the registration via an attached web link.
The CAC was established in 1990 with the responsibility to regulate the formation and management of companies in Nigeria.
A false post shared on WhatsApp with a dubious website masquerading as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria.
THE CLAIM
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved registration of companies online for free with benefits such as free trip to the United Kingdom, N50,000 cash, and free international trade, among others.
THE FINDINGS
The post read:
“FEDERAL GORVERNMENT HAS APPROVED All SELF EMPLOYED AND BUSSINESS OWNERS TO CARRY-OUT THEIR C.A.C(CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION) REGISTRATION ONLINE FREE OF CHARGE
BENEFITS OF C.A.Cs are -Free N50,000 cash from FG -Certificate of Incorporation -Legal Liability Protection -Free International Trade -Continuity -Free Trip to UK -Reputation With Customers -Getting on FG Record. ENROL NOW.”
Checks by the FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
The FactCheckHub observed that the website attached to the claim has similar characteristics of phishing websites attached to claims previously debunked here and here.
The website attached to the claim is different from the official website of the CAC.
The website in the claim seeks to fraudulently acquire people’s information as it asks people to fill in their basic information like email, phone number, name, business name and address.
You can learn how to identify phishing websites here.
The FactCheckHub findings show that the Federal Government had in November 2020 declared open free 250,000 business names registration for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on the sector.
No fewer than 100,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) eventually benefitted from free registration then, an initiative the phishers are probably riding on to perpetuate their phishing website.
Similarly, the spokesperson of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Duke Ukaja confirmed to the FactCheckHub that the post in circulation is false.
“It did not emanate from us, it is fake,” Ukaja told the FactCheckHub via a telephone conversation.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the registration of companies online for free with benefits such as a free trip to the United Kingdom, N50,000 cash, free international trade among others is FALSE; the information is neither from the CAC, nor the provided registration web link is that of the CAC.
A tweet that has been shared over 500 times, claimed that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to France to attend a summit that was already postponed.
The claim was made by Adetutu Balogun with the handle @Tutsy22 which has over 261,000 followers.
The tweet was posted alongside a screenshot of a news report which headline read ‘Africa-France summit postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions’.
The tweet read: The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria @MBuhari travelled for a summit that has been postponed.”
A screenshot of the claim that the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari travelled to France to attend a postponed event.
THE CLAIM
The President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari travelled to France to attend a postponed summit.
THE FINDINGS
The FactCheckHub findings revealed that the claim is FALSE.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on May 16, 2021 departed Abuja, Nigeria for Paris in France to participate in African Finance summit.
According to the Buhari’s Personal Assistant on new media Bashir Ahmad, the African Finance summit will be focused on reviewing African economy, following shocks from COVID-19 pandemic, and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries.
President @MBuhari has departed Abuja for Paris, France ahead of the African Finance Summit which will be focused on reviewing African economy, following shocks from COVID-19 pandemic, and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries. #PMBinParispic.twitter.com/Th0nWWuclV
Ahmad had also on Sunday tweeted that the president had arrived France for the summit.
In addition, the France President Emmanuel Macron had on April 22, tweeted about meeting the African leaders on May 18 to discuss sustainable financing of African economies.
L’Afrique porte une part des solutions pour la planète. Nous soutenons la Grande muraille verte qui permet d’agir pour le climat tout en renforçant la sécurité alimentaire. Et nous irons plus loin, le 18 mai, lors du sommet sur le financement durable des économies africaines.
A report had also earlier stated that Buhari and some African leaders would be present at the summit in person while some other leaders and several other international organisations would be joining the summit by video conference.
A look at the news embedded in the claim Balogun made shows that the postponed summit is the ‘Africa-France summit’, which is totally different from the ‘African Finance summit’ the president travelled for.
While the summit Buhari travelled for is billed to commence on May 18, in Paris, France, the Africa-France summit, another summit entirely which was to be held in early July in Montpellier, southern France, has been pushed to early October because of travel constraints linked to the Covid-19.
The event, planned from 8 to 10 July, will now take place from 7 to 9 October 2021, the French presidency confirmed to AFP.
The FactCheckHub had earlier verified three claims made by Balogun of which two of them were found to be inaccurate.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari travelled for a postponed summit is FALSE, the summit Buhari travelled for is African Finance summit, which is different from the postponed Africa-France summit.
A Twitter post shared thousands of times claim three photos of unmarked helicopters were taken “flying over forest in Maiduguri air dropping packages”. It noted that, in one of the instances, the chopper crashed, and villagers who went to the crash site saw two caucasian men burning briefcases of dollar bills before fleeing.
This tweet is the first in a thread alleging how foreign countries – France and Chad – fuel the Boko Haram crisis, hence, frustrating the efforts of the Nigerian military.
The tweet made on May 11, 2021 read “2015. Residents in several villages talk about unmarked helicopters flying over forests in Maiduguri air dropping packages. Especially at night. In one incident they watched the helicopter crashes. Villagers ran to the scene to rescue the occupants and were stunned to see two Caucasian men burning briefcases of hundred dollar bills before running away [from] the crash site.”
Within 24 hours, the post generated almost 4, 000 shares and over 4,500 reactions. The account, Defense Nigeria news [@DefenseNigeria], which states in the bio that it is not related to Nigeria’s military has over 41, 000 followers.
THE CLAIM
The photos of the helicopters were taken while they were flying over forest in Maiduguri.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by the FactCheckHub show that the claim is inaccurate and therefore, misleading.
Maiduguri is the capital of Borno state and it forest, Sambisa is habited by Islamist militant group, Boko Haram which made global headlines in 2014 when they abducted more than 270 school girls.
For over a decade, Nigeria has been battling insurgency at it North-East region. The prolonged fight has led to numerous conspiracy theories and counter theories ranging from it was sponsored to make the country ungovernable, foreign forces involvement for financial gains or religious agenda and even political power play by western countries.
The tweet by @DefenseNigeria came at a time when visuals of some foreigners said to be mercenaries, allegedly killed by insurgents were in circulation.
Photograph of unmarked helicopter published on Voice Philadelphia, U.S.
The FactCheckHub using a Reverse Image Search Technology traced the first image to Mount Airy, a neighbourhood in Philadelphia, in the U.S where residents panicked over a low flying unmarked helicopter.
This incident happened in 2017.
The authorities of the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) confirmed that the helicopter was monitoring transmission lines against overgrown vegetation, PhillyVoice reported
“Yes, we do helicopter patrols of transmission lines and related equipment on a regular basis,” Greg Smore, PECO Spokesperson stated. “It gives us different vantage points so we can document any conditions of concern and relay it back to the repair crews…”
It is clear that the photograph did not originate from Nigeria.
Incident surrounding the photograph of second Helicopter was also taken in the US in 2016
The second photograph did not also emanate from Nigeria but Medina County, in Ohio, U.S.
In June of 2016, residents told press that a helicopter was flying as low as 40 yards and they heard gunshots which made them panic.
At 43 seconds of the 3 minutes 18 seconds video news report by News 4 San Antonio, shows a very clear similarity with the second image shared in the tweet under verification.
The image was either a screengrab taken from the video or a still taken around the same time the video of the flying helicopter was recorded. Therefore, it is not in Nigeria as claimed in the tweet.
The photograph of the third Helicopter was taken in the US in 2019 and published in Post and Courier
Further search showed the third picture was taken in May 2019 by Schuyler Kropf for The Post and Courier Newspaper, a US-based newspaper founded in 1803.
“An FBI helicopter above the Charleston area on Wednesday, May 22, 2019,” the photo caption read.
The report was to clarify a misconception over the alleged hovering of helicopters in search of persons believed to be on the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In conclusion, the Twitter user @DefenseNigeria linking these photographs to helicopters “flying over forests in Maiduguri air dropping packages” is inaccurate and a misrepresentation because the photographs were all from different incidents that happened in the US in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
THE VERDICT
The three photos depict events that happened in the USA in 2016, 2017 and 2019. They do not show helicopters “flying over forests in Maiduguri air dropping packages”. Therefore, it is MISLEADING.
It was a time the country was grappling with COVID-19 pandemic. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had issued public health advisory to alert the public against the implication of non-adherence to the rolled out preventive measures.
