Home Blog Page 76

Nigeria does NOT have the highest rape rate in the world

Fatimah Quadri
-
0
Nigeria does NOT have the highest rape rate in the world

A claim that Nigeria has the highest rate of male to female rape in the world has gone viral on X.

The claim was made by an X user, @NnukwuMama, on the social media platform. It was boldly written as texts on an image. It read:

Rape in Nigeria. Nigeria has the highest rate of male to female rape in the world at 34.6%.

The claimant posted the image with another caption thus:

Check that Nigerian male today. He could be a rapist.
The post has garnered over a 100,000 views, more than 1,300 likes and over 380 reposts as of April 3, 2024.

CLAIM

Nigeria has the highest rate of male to female rape in the world at 34.6%.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!

Screenshot of the claim retrieved from X. INSERT: False verdict.
Screenshot of the claim retrieved from X. INSERT: False verdict.

A 2020 report by The Business Standard citing the World Population Review as it’s data source, listed ten countries with the highest rape rate namely; South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Bermuda, Sweden, Suriname, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Grenada. In the report, South Africa was listed as having the highest rape rate.

It also listed China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Japan, USA and Russia while noting that the data did not take into account rape incidents that go unreported to the police.

Another 2021 statistics by Data Pandas noted that the highest rape cases in the world was Botswana, followed by Lesotho and South Africa. Citing the UNODC violent crime offences as its source, it also listed 115 countries without Nigeria on the list.

In June 2023, Wionews also published an image reel which showcased the list of 7 countries with the highest rape cases globally. Citing the World Population Review as its source, it listed Botswana as the highest, followed by Lesotho, South Africa, Bermuda, Sweden, Suriname and Costa Rica.

Further checks revealed that the image posted by the claimant has been manipulated. She, however, admitted in the comments section that the claim was a misinformation as seen here.

Spreading disinformation could be for many reasons, one of which is bias confirmation which could likely be the case here. Despite the claimant admitting that the post contained false information, this could cause chaos in the information ecosystem as the topic is a sensitive one.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that Nigeria has the highest rate of male to female rape in the world at 34.6% is FALSE; data show that Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho top the list of countries with the highest rape rates globally.

False claim circulates about solar eclipse expected on April 8

Fatimah Quadri
-
1
False claim circulates about solar eclipse expected on April 8

A claim that the upcoming solar eclipse would last for three days and there would be total darkness globally is circulating on WhatsApp.

The claim was contained in a video that has been circulating in closed WhatsApp group chats.

But a look at the video showed that the over one-minute footage was earlier published on TikTok as it has its watermark.

READ: Doctored video of Howard Nicholas talking about African economy circulates online

The video when transcribed read:

3 days of darkness will occur when the earth passes through the photon belt, this is as the earth enters and passes through this belt there will be no sunlight nor moonlight on the earth’s surface. Photons are electromagnetic particles that travel at the speed of light and will act as a barrier or temporary shield around the earth. preventing the light of the sun or the stars from passing through it. This is expected to last seventy-two hours or five days there are no breaks of periods of light. During the three days, only darknss. Reccomendations, stock up on food, water, candles other essential items. All sunlight would be blocked and solar panels will not generate energy, stay at home and avoid travelling for safety reasons the sunlight will return to the earth marking the beginning of the golden age.

From previous checks of similar content, The FactCheckHub could ascertain that the audio and images were AI-generated.

On WhatsApp, the video was shared alongside a caption that read:

From 4th to 8th April, 2024 it’s likely we experience darkness for 72 hours, you are forwarned, don’t let opportunistic pastors or Alfa’s take advantage of you be prepared.

A total solar eclipse is expected to take place on Monday, April 8, 2024, crossing North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The caption implies that the eclipse would also take place in Nigeria.

A check on the username, @your_fave_shop, displayed at the footage of the TikTok footage led us to the original version of the video which was posted on Friday, March 15, 2024. The video has garnered over 100,000 likes and more than 6,000 comments as of March 31, 2024.

 

CLAIM

There will be total darkness for three days following expected solar eclipse from April 4.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!

Screenshot of the Viral claim; Insert Misleading Verdict
Screenshot of the viral claim retrieved from TikTok. INSERT: False verdict.

According to NASA, a total solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. Thus, the sky will be darkened for a while as if it were dawn or dusk, contrary to the statement made by the claimant that everywhere would be in total darkness.

The American space agency said that the eclipse would happen for a few minutes, unlike what the claimant stated that it would take place for three days.

Individuals are always excited and eager to watch the solar eclipse and it is advised for individuals to wear specialised eye protection glasses for the solar eclipse viewing as it is not safe to look at the sun directly because it might cause severe eye injury to some onlookers.

Further findings revealed that the eclipse would only take place in the United States contiguous and not in any other country in the remaining continents as forwarded by recipients.

ALSO READ: AI may fuel dissemination of climate disinformation – Report

THE VERDICT

The claim that there will be total darkness for three days following expected solar eclipse from April 4 is FALSE; the solar eclipse is expected to take place on 8th of April, 2024 for a few minutes and will not subject the whole world to total darkness, according to NASA.

TikTok to launch online election centres to combat misinformation

Fatimah Quadri
-
0
TikTok to launch online election centres to combat misinformation

TikTok has revealed plans to open online election centres on its platform to combat misinformation and boost electoral integrity globally in 2024.

A statement by the micro-vlogging platform said, noting that almost two billion voters in more than 50 nations will likely cast ballots this year.

It added that its election centres will be utilised to direct users to reliable sources of information.

READ: Despite policies, AI-tools still generate misleading election-related images – Report

With artificial intelligence (AI) fuelling fresh waves of misinformation and disinformation in form of manipulated media and deep fakes, there are widespread concerns regarding the possible influence of social media on this year’s elections.

Ahead of UK local elections in May, the video-sharing platform announced that it would open a Local Election Centre in the UK by early April.

“In early April, we are launching our in-app Local Election Centre in collaboration with Logically Facts, our fact-checking partners that specialise in analysing and fighting disinformation,” it noted.

“The Local Election Centre will provide our community members with reliable voting information including, amongst other things, links to resources from the Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees elections in the UK.

“When on TikTok, people will be directed to the Election Centre through prompts on relevant election content and searches, and we’ll continue to update throughout this period,” the statement further added.

TikTok said that it was already taking steps to counter AI-powered disinformation adding that it will continue to do so during elections globally while outlining the company’s strategy for the 2024 elections.

It noted that it was facing new issues as a result of AI-generated content, which it has been handling with strict regulations and innovative solutions.

READ ALSO: Google to restrict Gemini from answering election-related questions

The statement further reiterated its prohibition of altered content that may be construed as deceptive, including AI-generated contents featuring public figures if it shows them promoting a political viewpoint.

In order to get people to think about the material they were exposed to around elections, TikTok said that it will also be releasing a number of media literacy videos featuring Logically Facts in the UK. The election centres would display these videos.

Viral free flight tickets’ offers from airlines are phishing scams

Fatimah Quadri
-
0
Viral free flight tickets’ offers from airlines are phishing scams

A claim that the British Airways is giving out free tickets to its customers has circulated on social media, particularly on WhatsApp.

The message has been shared widely on multiple WhatsApp groups with a call to action to click a particular website or link in the forwarded message.

Similarly, text messages allegedly from few other airlines promising freebies such as Ramadan giveaways like Saudia and Qatar Airways are also being circulated on multiple social messaging platforms.

READ: AI may spur disinformation campaigns, phishing about US 2024 elections – Report

All the WhatsApp messages retrieved contain only links to some websites which have similar features with most phishing links The FactCheckHub had earlier debunked.

 

CLAIM

Multiple airlines are currently offering free flight tickets.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!

Photo collage showing the phishing links

When one of the web links – the Saudia Airline website promising Ramadan welfare subsidy – was clicked to check the authenticity of the website, it prompted our fact-checker to answer four questions, after which it asked her to click on a box to retrieve her gift with which only three trials is allowed.

Screenshot of the Image showing the questions

After clicking on the second box, it stated that this fact-checker had won a cash prize of N366,762 and in order to claim the prize, the link has to be shared to five WhatsApp groups or with 20 friends till ‘the green bar is full’. It prompted the user to fill their contact details including their address after which they would receive the gifts in a few days, a typical feature of most phishing scams.

Image of the boxes from the Phishing Websites links

Image of the Prize money from the Phishing Website link

The FactCheckHub conducted the same check on the web link promising free British airways tickets and the website had the same instructions as the Saudia phishing website.

Further checks show that after a few days, two of the three websites sharing the free tickets freebies were no longer available online.

DON’T MISS: Five AI tools used in generating disinformation visuals

This is synonymous with most phishing scams The FactCheckHub has debunked over the years, as they harvest people’s details to carry out phishing attacks.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that multiple airlines are currently offering free flight tickets is FALSE; the links were found to be phishing websites used in carrying out online scams.

Group organises public forum on countering election misinformation in Ghana

Nurudeen Akewushola
-
0
Group organises public forum on countering election misinformation in Ghana

THE Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has organised a public forum on countering misinformation, disinformation and propaganda narratives ahead of the 2024 general elections in Ghana.

READ: Ghana to implement action plan against misinformation in 2024

The forum was organised to analyse the escalating issue of information disorder and discuss its impact on national stability and democratic governance in the West African nation.

The forum also focused on generating actionable strategies and recommendations on how Ghana can build resilience against the proliferation of mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives towards the 2024 electioneering process.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah, noted that mis/disinformation has become one of the most serious threats to election integrity globally. He added that as it is increasingly becoming alarming in Africa, it will not spare Ghana if not addressed urgently.

He said mis/disinformation and propaganda narratives would get worse in the lead-up to the election because elections are seen to provide fertile grounds for disinformation campaigns.

“We share boundaries with countries that are targets for massive disinformation campaigns. So, we face a challenging situation ahead of this year’s elections. If the situation is not tackled robustly, the consequences can be dire,” Braimah said.

The MFWA director called for collaboration between all stakeholders in the country to combat misinformation and disinformation before, during and after the 2024 general election.

“We are here because we know there is a problem and we know collectively we can act together to dismantle any disinformation that will be targeted at disrupting our 2024 general election,” Braimah

Also commenting at the forum, the British High Commissioner in Ghana, H.E Harriet Thompson, noted that Ghana is not alone in the fight against mis/disinformation.

“We are fighting this together with you and that’s why we have supported the training of journalists and social media influencers,” said Thompson, who was represented at the event by the Development Director at the British High Commission, Richard Sandall.

He further noted that addressing information disorder will help Ghana maintain its enviable achievements in conducting successful elections throughout its fourth republic.

He expressed assurance that if stakeholders work together with the media leading the charge, the threats posed by information disorder will be addressed.

The forum was organised in partnership with the National Peace Council (NPC) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) with funding support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK.

The forum, held on March 27, had in attendance several participants including representatives from the NPC and NCCE, governance and media experts, legal experts, CSOs, public and state institutions, journalists and human rights experts.

Video does not show newly elected Senegalese president Bassirou Faye criticizing France

Nurudeen Akewushola
-
0
Video does not show newly elected Senegalese president Bassirou Faye criticizing France

A video purportedly showing Bassirou Diomaye Faye criticizing the French government has surfaced online following his election as the Senegalese president.

Senegal’s main opposition candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, won last Sunday’s presidential election in the West African country, Aljazeera reported.

The video has been shared on various social media platforms including X, Facebook and WhatsApp. It was also posted by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 general election.

“With joy in my heart, I congratulate the people of Senegal. Listening to him speak, I understand why the powers that be do all to suppress a courageous generation from rising up, I take solace in the fact that it is INEVITABLE,” Gbadebo posted.

READ: Video does not show Nigerien president released after agreeing to resign

The post has generated over 200 reposts and more than 700 likes as of March 27, 2024.

Similarly, an X user, @Africanhub_ posted the video with another caption thus: 

“It is over for France in Senegal. Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye (The new president of Senegal). Your comments on this.”

The post has generated over 100,000 views with over 1,000 reposts and more than 2,500 likes as of March 28, 2024. 

Another X user, @Akparawasunny posted the video with another caption that read: 

“Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegal’s new president? At 44 taking a bold step against the colonial slavery of France, America & Britain.”

The video has generated over 200 reposts and more than 300 likes as of March 27, 2024. 

The video also surfaced here and here on Facebook. 

 

CLAIM 

Video shows Bassirou Diomaye Faye criticizing France.

 

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Video purportedly showing Bassirou Faye criticizing France/ The claim is misleading,
Video purportedly showing Bassirou Faye criticizing France/ The claim is misleading,

Due to several centuries of shared history, Senegal and France have had a strong connection since the 1600s when the former was colonised until its independence in August 1960. Since then, the West African nation has maintained close links with France through business, national security and military agreements. Up till today, Senegal continues to use French as its official language, including for administration and education.

The FactCheckHub subjected the keyframes in the video to a Google Reverse image search and the result shows that the footage was extracted from the speech delivered by Senegal’s top opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, at a press conference in July 2021, in Dakar, Senegal. The transcript of the speech was shared by him on his X handle on July 2, 2021. 

Sonko is the leader and founder of the Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF), the political party used by Faye to contest this year’s presidential election in the country. 

The duo were jailed in the build-up to the presidential election but were released a week before the election. But Sonko was barred from contesting the election by the country’s Supreme Court. 

An earlier version of the video was posted on YouTube by Senegal7, a local media organization in the country on July 2, 2021. 

In the original video, Sonko spoke in French at the event and not in English, as seen in the viral video. However, the video has been edited to make it appear like he spoke in English. 

During the press conference, he spoke against the proposed decision of the Senegalese government to adopt an anti-terrorism policy and criticized France for what he described as the inability of the European country to allow the country to thrive.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video shows Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegal’s President-elect, criticizing France is MISLEADING; the footage is actually that of Sonko, an opposition leader in the country. More over, the viral video in circulation was doctored from the footage of his (Sonko) press conference held in 2021.

Video does not show ‘VeryDarkMan’ after his release from Police detention

Nurudeen Akewushola
-
0
Video does not show ‘VeryDarkMan’ after his release from Police detention

A video showing a controversial social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as the ‘VeryDarkMan’ exchanging pleasantries with people has surfaced online with a claim that he has been released from police detention. 

The social media influencer was reportedly arrested recently for cyberbullying and has been in detention since then.

Read: Video does not show bandits arrested by Nigerian Army recently

A popular online blog, @Instablog9ja posted the video with a caption thus: 

“Verydarkman is reportedly out of police detention.”

The post has garnered more than one million views, plus over 16,000 likes, more than 1,800 reposts and over 1,000 comments as of March 28, 2024. 

Another X account, @MezieBlogNG, had earlier posted the same video with a caption thus: 

“VERY DARK MAN (VDM) is out of Police Custody today after fulfilling his bail conditions.” 

The post has generated over 140,000 views, with more than 1000 likes and over 200 reposts as of March 28, 2024. 

The post has also been shared by various accounts on X. 

 

CLAIM 

Video shows the ‘VeryDarkMan’ after he was released from Police detention.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Screenshot of the viral post purportedly showing darkman after he was released/ The claim is MISLEADING.
Screenshot of the viral post purportedly showing VeryDarkMan after he was released. INSERT: MISLEADING verdict.

The FactCheckHub conducted a keyword search on the internet and the result revealed that the video showed the arrival of ‘VeryDarkMan’ ahead of a comedy show held in Calabar on December 24, 2023. A close examination of the background of the video also revealed that it was shot at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar in Cross River state.

He was received by the show organizers including Gbadamosi ThankGod Bernard, professionally known as Koboko Master and  Kenneth Oguche, also known as Sarkin Dariya. Gbadamosi, who was in the video, also debunked the video via an X post saying that the video is an old video and unrelated. He added that the social media influencer is still in Police detention.

Following the event last December, the ‘VeryDarkMan’ narrated how he came to the rescue of the show organizers at the last minute after Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekiru popularly called Sabinus reportedly failed to honour the event. 

Further findings by The FactCheckHub show that the last update given by his lawyer a few hours before the video started going viral on Tuesday was that the social media influencer had been granted bail on “stringent terms” but the Police said they needed approval from top authorities before he could be released.

In addition, our fact-checker reviewed various media reports and found out that the news of his release was not reported by any credible media platform.  

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video shows the ‘VeryDarkMan’ after he was released from Police detention is MISLEADING; the viral video is unrelated to his recent arrest and detention, as it was an old footage from December 2023.

Did Orji threaten Abia government if ex-governors’ pension is stopped?

Blessing Amala Muonwe
-
0
Did Orji threaten Abia government if ex-governors’ pension is stopped?

An online news blog, Igbo Times Magazine, has published a report that Theodore Ahamefule Orji, a former governor of Abia State, has threatened to cause unrest in the state if his pension as a former governor is stopped by the incumbent administration led by Alex Otti.

The report was also shared on the Facebook page of the blog alongside the link to the report on its website as seen here.

The post read:

Just In: If My Pension Is Stopped, There Will Be a Blood Bath In Abia State, I Will Make Otti’s Government Unbearable For Him – TA Orji Reportedly Vows

TA Orji intends to make the government of his successor, Dr. Alex Otti, unbearable if his pension is halted.

The post is circulating following the public announcement that the Abia state governor, Alex Otti, has signed a law stopping the state’s ex-governors and deputy governors’ pensions, which was recently passed by the state House of Assembly.

The bill titled “H.A.B 11, The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill 2024,” was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member for Arochukwu State Constituency, Mr Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

 

CLAIM

T.A. Orji threatens Abia state government if his pension as an ex-governor is stopped.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks by our researcher revealed that the claim is FALSE.

Following Otti’s signing of the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Law of 2024, Senator T.A. Orji has reacted to the issue while speaking with some sections of the Nigerian media, including Punch and Vanguard newspapers as reported here and here.

In his reaction, he did not threatened to make Abia state ungovernable should the ex-governors pensions be stopped.

“Since T. A Orji left office as Governor, he has not received any penny as pension. He transited from Governor to Senate and he made it a point of morality that he will not, and he didn’t ask for any pension or question anybody about it because he is not interested in it.

“The House of Assembly has the prerogative to periodically review the laws of the state. It’s in their powers to do so but nobody should link Senator Orji with the said pension law because nobody has paid him any pension after leaving office as Governor.

“Senator Orji has not received any pension as former Governor, and as a statesman he has not asked for any. He didn’t receive any pension from Okezie Ikpeazu and he didn’t pay anybody too,” Orji’s former Chief Liaison Officer, Ifeanyi Umere, told Vanguard newspaper.

He vehemently denied receiving any dime from the Abia State Government as a pension since his exit as the state governor in 2015.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that T.A. Orji threatened Abia state government if his pension as an ex-governor is stopped is FALSE; nowhere in his reaction to the repealed law did he made such threat.

Video of armed men forcing school children to strip naked not from Nigeria

Nurudeen Akewushola
-
0
Video of armed men forcing school children to strip naked not from Nigeria

AN X user, @DrBarryAvotu1st, has posted a video showing armed men forcing some school children to strip naked with a claim that the incident happened in Nigeria.

In the footage, the armed men were seen shooting indiscriminately in the air while ordering the school children, both male and female, who were dressed in school uniforms to strip naked. One of the armed men was seen brandishing weapon and threatening to kill any student who disobeys their orders.

The armed men could be heard ordering the school children to remove their clothes totally and raise their hands up or be shot while the kids plead for mercy.

READ: Did Nigerian authorities announce the killing of one terrorist three times? 

The X user posted the video with the caption that read: 

“See a country that has police and army! Kidnapped school children in the hands of kidnappers and forced to go naked – boys and girls.This is insanity! Do we have a Government in Nigeria ? This is wrong oh.” 

The claim, posted on March 23, 2024, has garnered over 480,000 views, with over 700 reposts, more than 800 bookmarks, and over 1,300 likes as of March 26, 2024. 

 

CLAIM 

Video shows school children kidnapped by armed men in Nigeria.

 

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Screenshot of the viral video showing armed men with the school children. INSERT: Misleading verdict.

The FactCheckHub subjected the keyframes in the video to a Google Reverse Image search and the result shows that the video depicts an incident that happened in Cameroon, Central Africa.

Findings show that the earlier version of the video was posted on Nairaland and a Facebook page in 2022 indicating that the incident occurred in Cameroon. The narrative was also corroborated by other credible media platforms such as Voice of America.

According to media reports, the video depicts armed separatists who attacked and molested students in Bwitingi-Buea located in the Southwest region of Cameroon on January 12, 2022. The reports showed that the incident occurred at Government High School, Buea in Cameroon.

It will be recall that Cameroon hosted the African Cup of Nations in 2022. The Anglophone separatists were reportedly fighting in Cameroon’s western region to break away from the majority French-speaking nation. They had vowed to disrupt the continent’s tournament in Buea and Limbe.

The two cities hosted football fans, players and match officials for group matches for the African teams from Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, and Tunisia.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video shows school children kidnapped by armed men in Nigeria is MISLEADING; the video depicts an incident involving armed separatists and school children that happened in Cameroon in 2022. 

Osun sets up committee to combat fake news, cyber bullying

Blessing Amala Muonwe
-
0
Osun sets up committee to combat fake news, cyber bullying

THE Osun State Government has established a Cybercrime Action Committee amidst moves to address the increasing spate of fake news and cyber bullying in the state.

A statement by Kolapo Alimi, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement on March 24, said the Committee aims to enforce relevant laws regarding cybercrime, cyber bullying, and fake news.

This decision comes amidst rising tensions on social media between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. These online exchanges often devolve into personal attacks, raising concerns about a toxic online environment, it noted.

The commissioner explained that the spread of fake news negatively affects both the government and the opposition parties, adding that all online actors will be held accountable within the legal framework.

“The Committee, domiciled at the Ministry of Justice, comprises of  journalists and legal professionals. Its mandate is to identify and address instances of fake news, regardless of the source,” Alimi said.

The Committee will utilize the Cybercrime Act of 2015 as its primary legal framework. This act prohibits the distribution of offensive, false, or misleading information online. Offenders face potential fines or imprisonment.

1...757677...174Page 76 of 174