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.
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.
Barrack Obama was Born in Kenya, East Africa. His father was an African (Kenyan).
The post has garnered over 100,000 views, with more than 900 likes, over 300 comments plus and over 200 reposts as of February 24, 2025.
Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States of America (USA) from 2009 to 2017.
CLAIM
Barack Obama was born in Kenya.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!
Screenshot of the claim as posted on X. INSERT: FALSE verdict.
A search online using the keywords “Barack Obama Kenya” reveals publicly available records from sources like Britannica, and the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama – all confirming that Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.
The records also noted that Obama’s father, Barack Obama snr was born in Kenya, East Africa before he moved to the United States.
Similarly, results from a Google reverse image search of the featured image show that former President Obama’s birth certificate was originally released by the White House in 2011.
Original copy of Obama’s birth certificate. CREDITS: WhiteHouse.gov
Our fact-checker observed that the document also listed the birthplaces of Obama’s parents—Kenya, East Africa (father) and Wichita, Kansas (mother) respectively.
Additionally, in the X post, the president’s photo was strategically placed over the “State of Hawaii” texts in the top left corner to cover that part of the document.
THE VERDICT
The claim that Barack Obama was born in Kenya is FALSE; checks show that though Obama’s father was Kenyan, official records confirm that the former president was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States.
THE House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review on Thursday, February 6, proposed the creation of 31 additional states across Nigeria.
If approved, it would increase the number of states in Nigeria to 67.
During the plenary session, deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided in the absence of the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, read a letter outlining the recommendations of the committee.
Kalu detailed the proposed distribution of the new states, with six allocated to the North Central, four to the North-East, five to the North-West, five to the South-East, four to the South-South, and seven to the South-West.
The proposed new states are New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State, FCT State, Tiga and Ari from Kano, Kainji from Kebbi State, and Etiti, Orashi, Adada, and Orlu from the South-East.
Others are Okun, Okura, and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa states from Benue; Amana state from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi state; Savannah state from Borno; and Muri State from Taraba.
Also included are Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun State as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States, Ogoja from Cross River State, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, and Ibadan from Oyo State.
History of state creation in Nigeria
Nigeria currently has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). All the states were created by military heads of state.
It must be noted that no civilian president has ever succeeded in creating any state in Nigeria.
In 1967, former Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon created 12 states through a military decree. The states he created are the North-Western State, the North-Eastern State, Kano State, Kaduna (North Central), Benue-Plateau State and Kwara State.
Others are the Western State and Lagos State the former western region was split into two States: The former Mid-Western region became the Mid-Western State, while the former eastern region had three new States carved out from it. These were Rivers State, South-Eastern and the East Central State.
In 1976, Murtala Mohammed’s military government created another seven new states, making it 19. The states are Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Imo, Niger, Ogun and Ondo.
This was followed by two new states in 1987 and another nine new states in 1991, by the Ibrahim Babangida military regime to make it 30 states.
The states created by Babangida are Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Abia, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Osun, Kogi, Taraba and Yobe.
The last time Nigeria created new states was in 1996, by the late Sani Abacha, a general.
Abacha created six new states namely Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara.
Rigorous process of state creation
The Houseduring its session outlined a rigorous process that must be followed to meet the constitutional requirements for the creation of new states in Nigeria.
The process involves securing the approval of at least a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, as well as endorsements from the House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Councils.
In accordance with Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution, any new state creation must be preceded by a referendum conducted by the State Houses of Assembly.
The proposal also called for the resubmission of proposals in line with the prescribed guidelines, which includes submitting hard copies and electronic copies of memoranda to the committee’s secretariat.
Constitutional requirement
The process of creating new states in Nigeria is a complex and multi-layered one, governed by Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution.
To understand the requirements and procedures involved, it is essential to carefully examine the provisions of this section.
According to an Ilorin, Kwara state-based lawyer, Moshood Ibrahim, the issue of state creation is a very complex procedure.
“The procedure is so complex that it will be so difficult for any democratically elected government to achieve the creation of a new state. No wonder most of our states were created by the military dictators,” Ibrahim stated.
According to the lawyer, the journey to creating a new state begins with the submission of a bill or request to the National Assembly by the interested parties.
This bill must then be voted on by members representing the areas in question at the national assembly, house of representatives and states house of assembly, with a two-third majority required in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Once this hurdle is cleared, the bill is sent to the State House of Assembly and Local Government Council of the area in question, where it must again receive a two-third majority vote. If the bill is successful at this stage, it is then forwarded to the President for assent.
However, the process does not end there. The proposal for the creation of a new state must also be approved by the citizens of the area in question through a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). For the referendum to be successful, a two-third majority of the people in question must consent to the creation of the new state.
The result of the referendum must then be approved by all states of the Federation through their respective Houses of Assembly, with a simple majority required.
Finally, the President must give his assent to the referendum, marking the final step in the process of creating a new state.
In a nutshell, the creation of additional states involves the following procedures:
Submission of a bill to the National Assembly
Voting by members representing the areas in question, with a two-thirds majority required
Approval by the State House of Assembly and Local Government Council, with a two-thirds majority required
Approval by citizens of the area in question through a referendum, with a two-thirds majority required
Approval by all states of the Federation through their respective Houses of Assembly, with a simple majority required
Final assent by the President
By following these steps, a new state can be created in Nigeria, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
RECENTLY, TikTok released its latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report which underscores the platform’s reinforced commitment to maintaining a safe, creative, and authentic online environment.
Focusing on the third quarter of 2024 and published in December 2024, the report reflects updated Community Guidelines that took effect in May 2024 —guidelines designed to provide the community with enhanced transparency about the rules and their enforcement.
The report notes that the Community Guidelines are continuously updated, with adjustments that range from minor to substantial ones like AI-content labelling etc. For instance, the May update involved revising policy titles and replacing ampersands (&) with the word “and,” while more significant updates have addressed emerging issues and shifts in online behaviour.
“Sometimes our changes are more substantive, reflecting emerging issues or trends in online behaviour. This most recent update included specific language about our AI-generated content policies, consistent with growing interest in AI and AI tools across the internet.
“In addition to revising our Community Guidelines, TikTok evaluates and updates our enforcement tools on a regular basis. One of TikTok’s eight Community Principles is to apply our content polices consistently, equitably, and transparently,” the report stated partly.
To achieve this, the platform continually assesses its automated moderation tools with the aim of enhancing both accuracy and speed, thereby fostering a broad spectrum of creative expression, it noted. It added that previous reports have shown that these investments are yielding tangible improvements, evidenced by a higher proactive removal rate and an increased number of videos restored.
The FactCheckHub observed that content removals in the third quarter of 2024 targeted accounts promoting sexual and explicit content, misinformation, fake engagements, suicide and self-harm, gambling, frauds and scams, drugs, hate speech, harassment, and bullying, among others.
Data from the report indicate that 147,875,561 videos were removed in the third quarter, compared to 178,827,465 in the second quarter. Of these, 118,268,578 videos were removed by automation, and 5,161,074 videos were restored during the third quarter.
Additionally, 187,309,345 fake accounts were removed, along with 24,304,797 accounts under the age of 13 and 3,266,134 other accounts. Live sessions saw 12,299,711 suspensions and 858,674 restorations, while 1,325,259,497 comments were removed within the period under review.
The policy distribution of removals, according to TikTok, were classified into six categories namely:
Integrity and authenticity
Privacy and Security
Safety and Civility
Mental and Behavioral health
Regulated and commercial activities
Sensitive and mature themes
Sensitive and mature themes accounted for 29.1% of removals, regulated goods and commercial activities 26.6%, and mental and behavioural health 19.5%. In contrast, the integrity and authenticity category comprised the lowest share at 2.0%.
The report also highlights a noticeable decline in the number of ads removed for advertising policy violations: 1,925,560 ads were removed due to policy breaches and 3,683,135 ads due to account-level enforcement actions in the third quarter, compared to 2,252,084 and 5,319,552, respectively, in the previous first and second quarters.
So, how can users avoid falling foul of the platform’s community guidelines? Experts react below:
Speaking with The FactCheckHub, a TikTok influencer Benita Peters (@benitapeters_) noted that TikTokers should simply adhere to the community guidelines, noting that they exist for a reason.
Sunday Awosoro, a fact-checker with Dubawa also shared the same view with Peters noting that TikTok users should carefully review the platform’s community guidelines and refrain from sharing misinformation or harmful content.
Verify Before Sharing
Ensure that any content you create or share is authentic. Avoid posting unverified, digitally-altered or manipulated media, especially if it touches on sensitive issues like politics, health, or religion.
“If you’re unsure about the accuracy of what you’re sharing, don’t post it at all. And if you must, fact-check it first or consult a fact-checking organisation,” Awosoro advised.
Use Reporting Tools
If you encounter content that appears to violate TikTok’s policies (such as misinformation, hate speech, or manipulated videos), report it immediately using the platform’s built-in reporting features. This helps maintain a safe community.
Engage Responsibly
Recognize that enforcement actions are applied to accounts repeatedly sharing problematic content. By following the guidelines and verifying sources, users help foster an environment that rewards creativity and respectful engagement.
Another TikTok influencer, Favour Obetta a.k.a. facetacy reiterated that TikTok users should avoid prohibited content and stay informed about policy updates.
“TikTokers should avoid prohibited content like suicide, eating disorders, bullying, nudity, contents that mislead people, using music videos or pictures without proper rights and stuffs like that and then staying updated on policy changes,” Obetta warned.
In conclusion, don’t forget that TikTok consistently reviews and upgrades its systems to detect new trends and promptly remove content and ads that violate its policies, reinforcing its continuous commitment to protecting the community from fake, fraudulent, or misleading content and ads.
AN X user, @AfonjaSlayer, has posted an image of the Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, alongside a claim that he is now a hunter in Ogun State.
Image shows Wole Soyinka as a hunter in Ogun State.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING, as the original image has been doctored to portray Soyinka as a hunter.
Screenshot of the X post showing Soyinka in a hunter’s dress. INSERT: MISLEADING verdict.
Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, poet, essayist, and activist, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential literary figures. Born on July 13, 1934, in Abeokuta, Nigeria, he gained international recognition for his works that critique political oppression, corruption, and societal injustice. In 1986, he became the first Black African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Wole Soyinka is best known as a playwright. Alongside his literary career, he has also worked as an actor and in theaters in Nigeria and Great Britain. His works also include poetry, novels, and essays. Soyinka writes in English, but his works are rooted in his native Nigeria and the Yoruba culture, with its legends, tales, and traditions. His writing also includes influences from Western traditions—from classical tragedies to modernist drama.
Beyond literature, Soyinka has been a critic of authoritarianism, speaking out against military rule and corruption in Nigeria. His activism led to his imprisonment during the Nigerian Civil War and exile under the late General Sani Abacha-led military regime in Nigeria.
When our fact-checker subjected the image to a Google Reverse Image search, the results show that the photo first appeared on the internet in 2014. It was initially shared on Nairaland, an online forum, with a caption that read: “(PHOTOS) Funny pic of Wole Soyinka hunting.”
In 2016, a news blog, OrijoReporter, also used the same image in a report titled: “I TRUST SOYINKA AS AN APARO HUNTER – OBASANJO.” However, the report did not confirm the authenticity of the image; we couldn’t independently confirmed the accuracy of that report itself either.
But an analysis of the image shows that there are few blurs around Soyinka’s neck – a sign that the image has been digitally altered.
The original image retrieved online via TinEye.
In addition, our fact-checker was able to trace the source of the original image using TinEye even though the website that published it is no longer accessible online. Our fact-checker obtained a low graphic version of the photo which shows that the person in the image is actually not Wole Soyinka.
Soyinka continues to be honoured for his significant contributions to literature and culture. He continues to be commenting on contemporary issues bordering on democracy, justice, and freedom of expression in the country and his works are being studied worldwide for their literary and political impact.
It is also noteworthy to state that Soyinka had previously taught in many universities locally and abroad, starting from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Cornell University, Emory University, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA, among others.
In conclusion, there’s no credible and available public record showing that he has ventured into hunting as of the time of filing this fact-check.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the image shows Wole Soyinka as a hunter in Ogun State is MISLEADING. The original image has been online since 2014 and it has been digitally altered to portray Soyinka as a local hunter.
A Nigerian influencer and social commentator, Isaac Fayose, has claimed that there have been no cases of Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria adding that kidnapping has reduced in the last six months under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration in the country.
He made the claim in a video he posted on his Instagram account, @isaacfayoseoriginal_ on February 11, 2025.
Part of the video transcribed below read:
“Six months now, Boko Haram never strike. Six months, kidnapping has reduced. We had Christmas without bad video to share. President Tinubu has done well with security. Oluyide, Chief of Army Staff has done well; Egbetokun, Police you have done well; Civil defence you have done well; road safety has done well. God bless all of you.”
CLAIM 1
There is no case of Boko Haram insurgency in the last six months in Nigeria.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Boko Haram, officially designated as a terrorist organization by Nigeria and the United States, among other national governments, has been responsible for a prolonged insurgency in Nigeria, particularly in the northeastern region. The group, which emerged in the early 2000s, gained notoriety for its violent attacks on civilians, security forces, and government infrastructure. It has been responsible for thousands of deaths and mass displacement, with millions of people forced to flee their homes over the years.
Despite sustained military operations against the group, Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to carry out attacks. Over the past six months, multiple reports have confirmed incidents of insurgent activities, including deadly ambushes on security convoys, attacks on villages, destruction of homes and places of worship, and mass killings of civilians, particularly in Borno, Yobe, and Niger states.
For instance, on September 2, 2024, some gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mafa village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, resulting in the deaths of unaccounted number of villagers. The assailants looted and set ablaze homes, businesses, and places of worship.
On November 2024, a team of 80 security operatives was ambushed by about 200 Boko Haram fighters in Shiroro, Niger State. At least seven members of the Nigerian government protection agency were declared missing while at least 50 insurgents died following the clash.
On January 4, 2025, Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists attacked a Forward Operating Base in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. The assault led to the deaths of some Nigerian soldiers, with many declared missing then, and the destruction of military vehicles and infrastructure.
On January 14, 2025, the Shikarkir community in Chibok Local Government Area, Borno State, was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents. The assailants burnt a church and ten houses, marking the second of such incident in the area within a week.
On January 16, 2025, Nigerian troops conducted operations in Borno State, resulting in the deaths of 76 militants from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These actions were in response to a surge in militant attacks, including the killing of at least 40 farmers in the Dumba community.
THE VERDICT
The claim that there was no Boko Haram attacks in the last six months in Nigeria is FALSE; multiple media reports confirmed insurgent activities, with significant casualties and destruction recorded in various parts of Nigeria between September 2024 and January 2025.
CLAIM 2
There has been a reduction in kidnapping incidents in the last six months in Nigeria.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s most pervasive security challenges, affecting people across different regions, from the northern regions to the southwest and southeast regions. Criminal gangs and kidnappers target civilians, commuters, government officials, and even law enforcement agents.
According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), households paid ₦2.23 trillion ($1.48 billion – using N1504 CBN rate) in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The NBS’s Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey reported 51.89 million crime incidents during this period, with the Northwest recording the highest cases. Data from SBM Intelligence shows that since 2019, Nigeria has witnessed 735 mass abductions till date. Between July 2022 and June 2023 alone, 3,620 people were abducted in 582 cases, with about ₦5 billion ($3.3 million) paid in ransom within the period.
Contrary to the claim of a decline in kidnappings in Nigeria, data indicate a consistent rise in abductions across the country.
According to data collated from media reports by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, (BSIL), a Nigerian-owned security risk management and intelligence consulting company based in Abuja, the number of kidnapped people in Nigeria in the second half of 2024 (July – December) is 5,537 across 191 LGAs. This is higher by 33.6% compared to 4,143 persons kidnapped in the first half of 2024 across 195 LGAs (January – June).
Infographic showing abduction and other crime incidents that occurred between July and December 2024. Note that 671 people were abducted in December 2024 only. CREDITS: BSIL.
In addition, a total of 743 persons were abducted across 74 LGAs in the country between January 1, 2025 and February 13, 2025. Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina lead the states with the highest number of kidnapping incidents within the period.
According to the data, 671 persons were abducted in December 2024 across the nation which Fayose described as peaceful, while 786; 971; 807; 1,267 and 1,035 people were kidnapped in November, October, September, August and July respectively.
Meanwhile, 728; 654; 855; 311; 1,128 and 467 people were kidnapped in January, February, March, April, May and June 2024 respectively.
Multiple media reports gathered by our fact-checker also corroborated the data released by the Abuja-based BSIL company.
For instance, in January 2025 alone, at least 20 separate cases were reported, averaging five cases per week. These incidents include the kidnapping of security officials, religious figures, travellers, and children.
In another instance, on January 31, terrorists raided Jangeru community in Zamfara and kidnapped two residents. On the same day, the Niger State Police Command rescued a six-month-old baby who was kidnapped by her cousin and taken to the Federal Capital Territory to be sold.
On January 7, 2025, two Catholic reverend sisters, Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli, were kidnapped along Ufuma road in Orumba, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. Similarly, a Sokoto State Community Guard Corps operative reportedly lost his life due to an accidental discharge shortly after participating in a joint operation that rescued 66 kidnap victims in the state on January 8. The operation, led by the Nigerian Army, was conducted in Tidibali Forest, located in the eastern part of the state.
Infographic showing abduction and other crime incidents that occurred between January and June 2024. Note that 467 abductions happened in June 2024 only. CREDITS: BSIL.
The Bauchi State Police Command rescued three children kidnapped in Bauchi in Northeastern region but was sold in Anambra State, South-East on January 9, 2025. In Enugu, tension gripped the Enugu-Ezike community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State following the reported abduction of over 33 passengers, including three soldiers, by suspected herdsmen same day.
On January 10, 2025, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Ikechukwu Okeke, was kidnapped at his Amaokpala community in Orumba North Local Government Area of the Anambra State. He was abducted while returning home from the funeral service of his cousin.
On January 13, 2025, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command declared one operative missing and two injured during a gun duel with suspected sea pirates dressed in military camouflage along the Oron-Calabar waterways corridor.
On January 14, 2025, terrorists raided the Kankara General Hospital in Katsina State, abducting five persons and leaving a medical doctor with a gunshot injury.
In addition, armed men kidnapped Adekunle Raphael Ola, who hails from Ijumu Local Government Area Kogi State, on January 15, 2025 around 8pm local time at his residence in Iyara. According to the victim, who was rescued six days later, about seven AK47 armed kidnappers stormed his compound and forcefully entered his house, beat him and his wife, requested money, and subsequently took him away.
On January 17, 2025, the wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu was kidnapped from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. This was followed by the kidnapping of no fewer than 16 persons by hoodlums in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on January 20, 2025.
THE VERDICT
The claim that kidnapping has reduced in the last six months in Nigeria is FALSE. Reports indicate a steady rise in abduction cases across different parts of Nigeria, with both high-profile and mass kidnappings occurring frequently.
A Facebook user, Real MD Al-ajab, has posted a video that purportedly shows two former governors of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Ganduje, engaging in a fisticuffs seconds after posing for a photoshoot.
In the video, the former governors could be seen exchanging punches and hit-kicks like the popular Asian Kung Fu fight.
The video was posted alongside a claim originally captioned in Hausa language thus: “An Kaure da fada”. When translated into English, it means: “they ended it with a fight”.
The post has garnered more than 2.1 million views with over 23,000 likes, plus more than 1,000 comments and over 2,000 shares on the social media platform as of February 12, 2025.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were once close political allies in Kano State, Nigeria. Ganduje served as Kwankwaso’s deputy governor from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015 under the ”Kwankwasiyya” political movement. However, their relationship became sour after Ganduje succeeded Kwankwaso as governor in 2015 and thereafter moved to free himself from his erstwhile political godfather.
The viral video might further exacerbate the unrelenting sour relationship among the supporters of both politicians.
CLAIM
Video shows Ganduje fighting with Kwankwaso.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub revealed that video is MISLEADING, as it is AI-generated.
Screenshot of the video retrieved from the Facebook post. INSERT: MISLEADING verdict.
The fallout stemmed from Ganduje’s decision to break away from Kwankwaso’s political influence and assert his independence in Kano politics. He distanced himself from the “Kwankwasiyya” movement led by his predecessor and began undoing some of Kwankwaso’s policies. The feud intensified when Ganduje refused to support Kwankwaso’s 2019 presidential bid and later opposed his influence in Kano politics.
The feud has continued over the years, with political and legal battles between both camps. In 2019, the Ganduje-led government split the Kano Emirate into five parts, weakening the power of then-Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, a known Kwankwaso ally. More recently, after Ganduje became APC national chairman in 2023, the rift persisted as Kwankwaso-led New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) won Kano governorship in 2023, leading to renewed feud. In 2024, the NNPP-led Kano government dissolved the new emirates created by Ganduje.
Their rivalry remains one of the most significant political feuds in northern Nigeria today.
To verify the video, our fact-checker carefully examined the dramatic fight movements, which resembled a classic Asian Kung Fu fight. Using a keyframe from the video, he performed a reverse image search on Google Lens. The results led to a Facebook post from 2012, showing that the image was originally taken during an award plaque presentation by the National Air Traffic Communicators Institute of Nigeria to Kwankwaso, which was handed over by Ganduje after previously receiving the award on his behalf.
The original photo showing the then Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, presenting a plaque in honour of His Excellency, the then Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State awarded to him by the National Air Traffic Communicators Institute of Nigeria in Abuja in September 2012. Kwankwaso was represented at the event by his then deputy. PHOTO CREDITS: Kano State Government.
Further analysis of the video led our fact-checker to conduct a keyword search for “Kung Fu effect video” on multiple social media platforms. This search returned multiple results from Facebook and TikTok, many of which contained a watermark from an AI tool called “Hailuo”. The presence of this watermark suggested that the video was artificially generated. To confirm, our fact-checker reviewed a tutorial demonstrating how such videos can be created using a single image and a text prompt. This shows that the viral video was likely created using such AI tool some online users deploy in making video deepfakes.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows Ganduje fighting with Kwankwaso is MISLEADING, as the content is AI-generated.
ON February 9, 2025, a Facebook page, Naija Tatafo, shared two images featuring a man with both hands amputated alongside the portrait of a woman with a bold inscription ‘wife’.
The poster claimed that they were couple and alleged that the wife cut off her husband’s two hands for buying an iPhone 16 for his mistress.
“Please overlook her behavior” – Reactions Surface After Nigerian Woman Cut Off Her Husband’s Two Hands for Buying an iPhone 16 for His Side Chick.”
CLAIM
Images show a man whose hand was amputated by his wife after he allegedly bought an iPhone 16 for his mistress.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE, as the man in the first image was actually a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), whose hands were severed by motorcycle thieves in 2019 — not by his wife.
The first image shows Habibu Abubakar Nakasari, a 200-level English Language student at UDUS, who was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, April 7, 2019, in the Manna area of Sokoto South Local Government Area in Sokoto State, according to the Punch report. The assailants severed his hands before fleeing with his motorcycle, it added.
Additionally, the same image was found in Premium Times and Daily Trust reports from 2019, all confirming that the incident was an attack on a Nigerian student by criminals, and not a domestic dispute.
Verification of the woman in the second image
To verify the identity of the woman in the Facebook post, our fact-checker conducted a reverse image search using Pim Eyes. The initial search conducted using Google Lens did not yield any result due to the blurry quality of the image. However, after enhancing the image using an image enhancement tool, a subsequent Google reverse image search traced the original photo to a 2021 media report published by The Cable.
A clearer image of the woman in the Facebook post as seen online via PimEyes.com
According to the media report, the woman in the image is Rhoda Agboje, a 300-level undergraduate arrested alongside her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, for allegedly selling drug-laced cookies to schoolchildren in Abuja. It was also reported by other Nigerian media outlets including the Nigerian Tribune, HumAngle, Daily Trust and PM News Nigeria etc.
Therefore, both images are unrelated to the fictitious claim in the Facebook post.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the images show a man whose hand was amputated by his wife after he allegedly bought an iPhone 16 for his mistress is FALSE. The man in the first image was actually a Nigerian student attacked by armed motorcycle thieves in 2019, while the woman’s image used to support the false narrative was reportedly an undergraduate arrested in 2021 for alleged drug-related offenses.
A video showing people uncovering bags of money stacked in a container has surfaced online, with varying claims that it depicts money hidden by politicians in Wadata plaza, Abuja.
Some social media users also posted the same video suggesting that the incident occurred in Delta State.
A Facebook account, All Civil Servants in Nigeria posted the video with a caption thus:
“Breaking News:- EFCC Discovered money hidden in a container in DELTA STATE.”
The post has garnered reactions on the social media platform.
Another Facebook account, Gist News, posted the same video with another caption that read:
“Breaking News:- EFCC Discovered money hidden in a container in Wadata, Abuja.”
Similarly, the claim also appeared on X.
An X user, Sebastine Ogbonnaya, also posted the video with a similar caption thus:
“Breaking News:- EFCC Discovered money hidden in a container in Wadata, Abuja.
This is the reason why our politicians will never make heaven, just look at our money. The election of bad leaders has consequences.”
The video has garnered traction on the X platform too.
CLAIM
Video shows looted bags of money recovered in Abuja and Delta.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Videos of alleged cash discoveries often go viral on social media, fueling speculation about corruption and hidden wealth. These videos often resurface with false claims linking them to different locations or recent events, thus misleading the public. The spread of such misinformation is often amplified by social media influencers and accounts seeking engagement, without verifying the actual context.
Screenshot of the viral post. INSERT: MISLEADING verdict.
This has led to instances where discarded naira notes are falsely presented as hidden stashes of illicit cash. Similar claims have emerged during major economic or political events, sparking public outrage and distrust in authorities and the political class.
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the video is not recent and neither depict an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operation in Abuja nor in Delta State. A reverse image search and media reports traced the footage back to December 2022, when a similar claim went viral.
According to media reports by Punch and The Street Journal published on December 14, 2022, the EFCC Makurdi office and the Benue State Police Command debunked the claim, clarifying that the sacks contained condemned naira notes from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and not hidden wealth.
An EFCC official confirmed that after obtaining a search warrant and investigating the scene, they found wasted naira notes cut into pieces and squeezed, making them unfit for use.
The Benue State Police Command also confirmed in a statement that the recovered items were discarded paper materials legally obtained from the CBN for waste management. The shop owner, Isah Suleiman, even presented a license from the CBN authorizing him to collect and process the wasted notes into mosquito repellents.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows bags of money recently recovered in Abuja and Delta State is MISLEADING. The video depicts an old incident from December 2022 in Makurdi, Benue State, where the monies were discarded naira notes legally obtained from the CBN as waste.
DESPITE many motorists expressing concerns about poor awareness campaigns, the Nigerian Police Force across the Federation has announced the commencement and enforcement of the mandatory minimum of Third-Party vehicle insurance from February 1, 2025.
The enforcement complies with the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as motorists without valid third-party insurance have been advised to comply or face sanctions.
However, informed analysts told The ICIR that those whose vehicles are insured through the comprehensive insurance policy have nothing to fret about on the police third-party insurance coverage enforcement exercise.
“Those under comprehensive insurance policy are not affected by this police enforcement. Comprehensive has in it both the third-party-vehicle insurance coverage and the total insurance package for an insurer’s car, hence there’s no need for the police to disturb such person during enforcement,” an insurance sector governance expert, Modestus Anaesoronye told The ICIR.
Those under comprehensive insurance policy are not affected by this police enforcement. Comprehensive has in it both the third-party-vehicle insurance coverage and the total insurance package for an insurer’s car, hence there’s no need for the police to disturb such person during enforcement
“The person you hit his car if you have comprehensive is also completely covered. Third-Party is N15,000 officially, except you want to get a third-party extension or plus which enables you to take care of a little portion of the car in case of an accident to the tune of about N750,000. The comprehensive is a total package- mostly 5 per cent of the total cost of the car and payable annually. It expires annually. Because of the high cost of comprehensive insurance, most people opt for third-party vehicle insurance,” Anaesoronye stated.
The ICIR reports that the Police got a licence for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) insurance package last November to enable them play huge part in the insurance market.
Commenting further, the President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Olusoji Oluwole, said the Police need to drive an awareness campaign first with the Professional Insurance Association before embarking on its enforcement.
“The awareness campaign is low. There should be a month of enforcement in Motor Parks and other strategic spots before the enforcement. People don’t understand the value of insurance, hence the poor enrollment figures we have currently. Most people who take insurance take it as a result of obligations and not wanting to run foul of the law. Insurance is basically to protect oneself in the event of unforeseen indemnities and challenges,” Oluwole stated.
What is Comprehensive Insurance?
Investopedia describes the Comprehensive insurance as a type of automobile insurance that covers damage to your car from causes other than a collision. Comprehensive insurance will cover your vehicle if destroyed by a tornado, dented by a run-in with a deer, spray-painted by a vandal, damaged by a break-in, crushed by a collapsing garage, or many other causes.
While the policy has been established under the Insurance Act of 2003, many Nigerians, especially vehicle owners remain uncertain about the details and modalities of Police enforcement.
Already, the official spokespersons of the police across the federation have directed various commands to ensure compliance with the new directive.
What to know about the third-party insurance policy
As a means of spreading loss, insurance is an agreement where one party, the insurer, agrees, in return for a consideration called the premium, to pay the other party, the insured, a certain sum of money at the happening of a specified uncertain event or events.
Over the years, third-party insurance policies have developed. It is one under which the insurer (the second party) agrees to indemnify the insured (the first party) if he is liable for injuries done to another person (the third party) who is not a party to the contract.
Such insurance policies cover losses that result from acts or omissions of the insured that are deemed negligent and result in damage to the person, property, or interests of other persons.
The damage could be in respect of professional, product, or motor vehicle; motor vehicle third-party liability includes every other person except the contracting parties to the insurance contract.
The person could be a passenger in the insured vehicle, or another vehicle for that matter, or someone walking along a road in the vicinity of the accident.
The ICIRreported that Third-party motor vehicle insurance is a mandatory policy in Nigeria that provides financial protection against damages or injuries caused to third parties by the insured vehicle.
Section 3 (1) says, “Subject to the provisions of this Act no person shall use, or cause or permit any other person to use a motor vehicle unless there is in force about the user of that motor vehicle by such person or such other person as the case may be such a policy of insurance or such a security in respect of third party risks as complies with the provisions of this Act.
Subsection (2) provides that any person acting in contravention of this section shall be liable on conviction to a fine of four hundred nairas or to imprisonment for one year or to both such fine and im- imprisonment and a person convicted of an offense under this section shall be disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence.
Subsection (3) adds that a disqualification under the provision of subsection (2), unless the court for special reasons to be recorded otherwise orders, shall be for a minimum period of twelve months from the date of the conviction, and any person so disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence under the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be so disqualified under the provisions of the Road Traffic Laws.
NAICOM explains what insurance means for motorists
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has expressed its support for the Nigeria Police Force’s announcement that effective February 1, 2025, the Third-Party Motor Insurance Policy for all vehicles on Nigerian roads will be enforced nationwide.
This move ensures strict compliance with Section 68 of the Insurance Act 2003.
NAICOM acknowledges that many Nigerians, particularly vehicle owners, may lack awareness of the law’s significance and the benefits of the Third-Party Motor Insurance Policy.
The essence of every vehicle on the road having Third-Party Motor Insurance is to facilitate the safety of others and ensure the financial recovery/compensation for damages and/or injuries or loss of lives in the event of accidents covered by the policy.
Third-party Motor Insurance Policies can be procured from or through only licensed insurance entities authorised by NAICOM to transact Motor Insurance business in Nigeria.
The Third-Party Motor Insurance Policy is sold for a premium of N15,000 per year to private car owners, while the premiums for commercial vehicles vary depending on the type of vehicle.
The Third Party Motor Insurance Policy gives the policyholders a limit of N3m to repair or replace the property of the innocent third party damaged during an accident.
Also, it gives policyholders access to limited medical care for any third party injured as a result of the accident.
In addition, it provides financial compensation to the family of the deceased innocent third party in the event of death. Furthermore, the Third Party Motor Insurance Policy now includes third-party motor insurance cover for the vehicle if the vehicle was driven to any West African country based on the protocol of the ECOWAS Brown Card Scheme.
The Commission encourages vehicle owners in Nigeria to take full advantage of the enforcement announced by the Nigerian Police Force to ensure the safety and protection of lives, properties, and financial compensation for innocent third parties on our roads.
A Complaints Bureau is also in place at the National Insurance Commission for resolving all complaints that may emanate from members of the public who may be dissatisfied with an insurance company’s service or response to claims.
This move, NAICOM said is expected to enhance road safety, protect the rights of accident victims, and promote the overall growth of the insurance sector in Nigeria.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
* This article was republished from The ICIR. You can read the original article here.
Copied: PFIZER JUST RELEASED IT’S LIST OF SIDE EFFECTS OF ITS “COVID-19 VACCINE”…….and the list of some side effects of the Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine. TAKE-HEED! Blood thrombosis. Acute kidney injury, Acute flaccid myelitis, Positive antisperm antibodies, Brainstem embolism, Brainstem thrombosis, Cardiac arrest (hundreds of cases), Heart failure, Cardiac ventricular thrombosis, Cardiogenic shock, Central nervous system vasculitis, Neonatal death, Deep vein thrombosis, Brainstem encephalitis, Hemorrhagic encephalitis, Frontal lobe epilepsy, Foaming at the mouth, Epileptic psychosis, Facial paralysis, Fetal distress syndrome, Gastrointestinal amyloidosis, Generalized tonic-clonic seizure, Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, Hepatic vascular thrombosis, Herpes zoster reactivation, Hepatitis Immune-mediated, Interstitial lung disease, Jugular vein embolism, Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, Liver damage, Low birth weight, Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, Myocarditis, Neonatal seizure, Pancreatitis, Pneumonia, Stillbirth, Tachycardia, Temporal lobe epilepsy, Testicular autoimmunity, Thrombotic stroke, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Neonatal venous thrombosis, Vertebral artery thrombosis, Pericarditis, Sudden death.” We just thought you’d like to know, because one thing people will never be able to say is, “I didn’t know” WE TOLD YOU!
The post has garnered over 9,000 views with more than 200 reposts and over 200 likes as of February 9, 2025.
Pfizer, a leading global pharmaceutical company, developed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with the German biotechnology firm BioNTech.
Launched in December 2020, this mRNA-based vaccine was one of the first to receive emergency use authorization from regulatory agencies worldwide. It has played a pivotal role in reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19, following extensive clinical trials that demonstrated its safety and efficacy. The vaccine continues to be a central component of global public health strategies to combat the pandemic.
CLAIM
Pfizer releases new list of its COVID-19 vaccine side effects in 2025.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!
Screenshot of an appearance of the claim; INSERT False verdict
A Google search using the keywords “Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine side effects” showed that the list of so-called side effects originates from a Pfizer document from 2021 that was made public in 2022.
Pfizer submitted the document to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021, detailing adverse events reported during the first three months following the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020.
It is very important to note the distinction between “adverse events” and “side effects.”
According to numerous health journals, adverse events refer to any health issues reported after vaccination; however, they are not necessarily caused by the vaccine itself. A side effect, by contrast, is a complication directly attributable to the vaccine.
The document clearly states in its disclaimer that the reported adverse events “do not necessarily indicate that a particular AE (adverse event) was caused by the drug; rather, the event may be due to an underlying disease or some other factor(s).”
The data in the report were aggregated from multiple international vaccine safety databases, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the United Kingdom’s Yellow Card system.
Another report by Reuters clarified that these adverse events were collected from such national reporting systems.
Additionally, this claim regarding the list of side effects of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine has been scrutinized and debunked by reputable organizations around the world such as Politifact, Reuters and Science Feedback before it reached Nigerian audience recently.
THE VERDICT
The claim that Pfizer releases new list of its COVID-19 vaccine side effects in 2025 is FALSE; Pfizer’s 2021 document only recorded reported adverse events during the early phase of the vaccine’s emergency use—not confirmed side effects.
