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Fake Nigerian police recruitment websites circulate online

Fatimah Quadri
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Fake Nigerian police recruitment websites circulate online

FAKE and phishing websites are circulating widely on the internet following the commencement of the recruitment process for constables and specialists of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) which was announced on October 13, 2023.

These web links have been forwarded in closed WhatsApp group chats. It has also been posted on Facebook accounts and groups as seen here, here, and here.

Screenshot of the Phishing Website; Insert, Misleading verdict
Screenshot from one of the phishing websites; INSERT: Misleading verdict.

CLAIM

Phishing websites for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) recruitment circulate online.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that multiple websites claiming to be receiving applications for the Nigerian police recruitment which were circulating online are MISLEADING!

When our researcher examined the web link closely, it shows that the domain name shares features synonymous with the majority of phishing websites that The FactCheckHub had reported previously.

When you click on one of the viral links (now deleted),users are not taken to the official website of the Nigeria Police Force. Rather, when you click on the link, it takes users to a site that does not have the name or the logo of the Nigerian police.

What it shows on the home page is  ‘Nigeria Police Application’. A close look also shows that some words on the home page of the websites are mis-spelt which is a common feature of phishing links and scams.

Screenshot of the website outlining misspelt words and inaccurate sentences
Screenshot of the website outlining mis-spelt words and inaccurate sentences

On the right side of the page, applicants are advised to fill in their details; after filling, it directs them to another page that ask them to input their name and the role they are applying for. It then leads them to another page where it asks them to share until the green bar is full which is a major red flag that indicates it is a phishing scam.

Screenshot of 'share until the green bar is full'.
Screenshot of ‘share until the green bar is full’.

To apply for the NPF recruitment which closes on the 26th of November, 2023, click their original application portal here.

You can learn more about how to identify phishing scams and websites on our tutorial page.

 

THE VERDICT

The phishing websites circulating on social media are misleading; they contain features and red flags common to phishing scams. The original link for the application is accessible via: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng

IFCN awards $1million to 20 fact-checking organizations to expand operations

Fatimah Quadri
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IFCN awards $1million to 20 fact-checking organizations to expand operations

THE International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute has awarded a total of $1 million in funding to twenty organizations to improve the ability and sustainability of fact-checkers to combat misinformation globally.

The grant is a component of the $12 million Global Fact Check Fund initiative which was launched with the support of Google and YouTube. The second phase of the grant which is the GROW phase, aims to strengthen organizations’ institutional capacity, competitiveness, and sustainability in local and regional activity.

It will be recalled that the IFCN had in June 2023 announced the 35 recipients of the first phase of the grant (BUILD phase) which The FactCheckHub was among its selected recipients.

In a statement announcing the grant recipients, IFCN Director, Angie Drobnic Holan, said the proposals selected for funding will improve the global network of fact-checkers, which is crucial for combating dangerous misinformation.

“We are heartened by the diversity and innovation of the projects that fact-checking newsrooms have proposed that will increase the reach and impact of their work. These projects will improve the information ecosystems in their home countries, and they will generate lessons and takeaways for fact-checkers around the world,” Holan said.

The statement added: “The projects from all around the world represented in the funded proposals are diverse. Rappler, a Philippines news organisation  will use the grant as seed money, and to provide  training to complement the work it is doing to instruct fellows and aspiring fact-checkers, while USA Today plans to fight misinformation and produce fact-checking in Spanish with its grant.

“Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) of Germany will work to train fact-checkers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in artificial intelligence and the ways it can affect misinformation. Also, the grant will allow Mizzima, of Myanmar, to continue to build its capacity and sustainability for its mission, after its operation was earlier destabilised financially following the 2021 coup in that country.

“The GROW grants can be used for training, fundraising, data analytics tools, expanding partnerships and collaborations, hiring more people, or developing new programmes aimed at increasing the visibility of content.

Below is the complete list of the GROW phase grant recipients:

  1. Africa Check (South Africa)
  2. Asociacion de Periodismo de Investigacion Ojo Publico (Peru)
  3. Belarusian Investigative Center z.s. (Belarus)
  4. BOOM (India)
  5. Demagog.cz (Czech Republic)
  6. Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa (Germany)
  7. Factcheck Lab (Hong Kong)
  8. Fonden ARIJ International (Jordan)
  9. Krik (Serbia)
  10. La Diaria (Uruguay)
  11. Lakmusz.hu – Magyar Jeti Zrt. (Hungary)
  12. Les Surligneurs (France)
  13. Maharat Foundation (Lebanon)
  14. Mizzima (Myanmar)
  15. Newtral (Spain)
  16. Rappler (Philippines)
  17. The Self-Investigation (The Netherlands)
  18. USA Today (United States)
  19. VERA Files (Philippines)
  20. Verify-Sy (Turkey)

Viral video of UN drone crash is over 9 years old!

Fatimah Quadri
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Viral video of UN drone crash is over 9 years old!

A claim that a United Nations (UN) drone loaded with gold, foreign currencies, guns, and parachutes that crash-landed in the Northern part of Kivu-Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been going viral online.

The claim was contained in a video that originated from YouTube but which has also found its way to TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). The video was posted on a channel on YouTube, 2nacheki which has over a million subscribers.

Since the inception of the video on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, it has gained over 300,000 views and more than a thousand comments.

In the two minutes, twenty-eight seconds footage, a voice-over narration could be heard saying:

“Footage coming out of the Democratic Republic of Congo downed united nations drone that locals alleged was carrying gold, guns, and parachutes, in the footage you can see locals trying to move the drone to an undisclosed location. Locals can be heard speaking in Lingala and Swahili claiming that this is what the UN is doing in Congo, not protecting but looting the country. Locals can also be heard talking about the cargo of the UN drone saying it contains, gold, guns and some escape parachutes…”

The locals speak in a local language from 38 seconds to 1:03 minutes into the footage, though The FactCheckHub could not ascertain the language been spoken in the video.

The FactCheckHub reports that a ‘Nigerian’ pro-Russia account on X (@jcokechukwu) also posted the footage, alongside a five-paragraph essay saying: “…this is the same UN that our brothers in DRC protested against and they lost their lives in dozens.”

As of November 17, 2023, the video has garnered over 500,000 views on his X handle, with more than 2,000 reposts and over 2500 Likes since he made the post on November 11, 2023.

Screenshot of the viral video; Insert, Misleading verdict
Screenshot of the viral footage; INSERT: Misleading verdict

CLAIM

A United Nations drone loaded with bounties crash-landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by the FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING as the video is over nine years old.

A keyword search of the words: ‘United Nations DRC Drone Crashed’ on Google search engine displayed news reports from credible media houses like Business Standard, Vanguard, and The Guardian of a UN surveillance drone crash in January 2014.

The drone, which was a component of a programme to keep an eye on armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s war-torn east, was rendered useless.

Media houses reported that the incident occurred as the unarmed drone was returning from a mission to Goma, in North Kivu province, and no casualties were reported, Felix Prosper Basse, a military spokesman for the peace-keeping mission was quoted.

Military Africa and Defence web also reported in 2022 that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)  recovered a crashed Falco Evo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).

There were no mentions of gold, guns or foreign currencies in any of the media reports.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that a United Nations drone loaded with bounties crash-landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo is MISLEADING; the video was uploaded on YouTube since January 2014, making the video over nine years old. There is also no mention of  of gold, guns or foreign currencies in any credible media report.

Nigerian government tasks editors on media literacy, fact-checking

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Nigerian government tasks editors on media literacy, fact-checking

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian editors to use media and digital literacy, responsible reportage and fact-checking to stem the spread of misinformation in the country.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the remark on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 in Uyo while declaring open the 19th Nigeria Editors Conference 2023 held at Ibom Icon Hotel, with the theme “Stimulating economic growth, technological advancement: The role of the media”.

He decried the high level of false narratives and misinformation in the country saying the trend is threatening the fabric of the Nigerian society.

READ : Nigerian government to collaborate with Google to tackle hate speech, disinformation

“We are faced with the proliferation of misinformation and false narratives, which threaten the fabric of our society. And it is our collective duty to combat this menace through fact-checking, responsible reporting, promoting media and digital literacy with which we can fortify our defence against the corrosive effects of false narrative,” he said.

He explained that the federal government is working to change the systemic moral decline in the country.

READ ALSO : Media Matters for Democracy launches fact-checking tool ‘Facter’ for newsrooms

He noted that the implementation of a sustained mass reorientation campaign is aimed at fostering unity, patriotism and promotion of positive values among Nigerians and called on the editors to support the campaign for moral rectitude among Nigerians.

False claim circulates that family of four died after consuming canned fish in Nnewi

Rejoice Taddy
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False claim circulates that family of four died after consuming canned fish in Nnewi

A Facebook user, Cruzyfresh Comedy, has posted a video alongside a caption that says a certain type of canned fish should not be consumed by Nigerians alleging that it has killed a family in Nnewi, Anambra state.

The one minute, twenty-two seconds video has detailed how the family allegedly consume Anny Sardine which eventually caused their death.

The woman-narrator in the footage said: “ Anywhere you see this particular sardine, be careful. You all should know the kind of things you consume. You all see how a father, mother and children all died at once because they bought this sardine in the night and ate.”

“Please share this video. Share it if you like your sister, your brother, mother and father. Share it so it wouldn’t look like I did not warn you,” she said at the end of the video clip.

The same claim was also posted by another Facebook user, JB funny comedy, alongside a footage that showed a man, woman, and some children lying dead in a room as passers-by mourned.

The narrator in the video said: “Good morning my viewers all over the world. It is very very urgent. Wherever you see this particular Sardine, please do not go near it. Don’t buy it,” as the photo of the canned fish popped up on the screen.

The man goes on to say that so many families have been wiped away,  because they bought and ate that particular sardine he was talking about.

“Please help me share this video. If you do not share it you are a wicked soul. Make sure you share it to save the lives of many people. Anywhere you see this sardine please do not go near it,” he reiterated.

Multiple Facebook users also shared the same video with similar narration as seen here, here, here, here, here and here.

 

CLAIM

A family of four died after consuming Anny Sardine.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks show that the claim is FALSE.

When the footage was subjected to Google Image search, no result was found.

But using InVid, a video verification tool to scrutinize the footage, it led us to some YouTube Videos, where some of its visuals had appeared before then.

The first video sighted was that of a news broadcast by TVC News which was published on October 18, 2021. In the news report, a family of four was reported to have died allegedly from food poisoning in Enugu state, and not from Anny Sardine.

The family who died in Enugu were said to have eaten corn flour with Oha soup, and died, leaving a 9 months old baby who did not eat the food.

The same Enugu incident was also reported earlier on October 15, 2021 by Arise News.

Further checks using keywords search on Google search engine revealed that multiple  reports have been published on the Enugu incident as seen here and here. However, none of the reports mentioned Anny Sardine as the cause of the death.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that a family of four died after consuming Anny Sardine is FALSE. The footage was from a 2021 incident involving a family of four who died from food poisoning and unrelated to the consumption of any canned fish.

 

* This fact-check was written by Rejoice Taddy, a fellow of the ICIR’s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project, supported by the German Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.

Video showing a child allegedly being shot is from a movie, not Israel-Hamas war

Rejoice Taddy
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Video showing a child allegedly being shot is from a movie, not Israel-Hamas war

A video showing a child supposedly being shot with a gun has circulated online amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

An X user with the name Mohammed Munajir (@munajir92) shared the video that showed people standing around a child laying on the floor. There was also a camera hanging over the little crowd with some of them fixing its position, while also adjusting the child’s lying posture.

The captions on the post read, “See how Israelis are making fake videos saying that Hamas killed children.”

Multiple X users have also shared the same video alongside similar caption. See them here, here, here, and here.

The video is circulating following the Israeli bombardment of Gaza after Hamas, an armed Palestinian group, launched attacks on Israeli towns and settlements near the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Since the war began, there have been increase in misinformation and disinformation narratives circulating online, some of which have been reported by Reuters here.

 

CLAIM

Video shows a child being shot in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Using reverse image search, the footage was traced from one of the X accounts which published it to a TikTok account, archived here, whose handle appeared on the clip.

An advance search on Google revealed that the video was uploaded on TikTok on April 21, 2022 and it showed a behind-the-scenes footage of a film produced by the crew seen in the clip.

The caption shared alongside the footage on the TikTok account named ‘awawdeh production’ reads: “Behind the scenes of filming the scene of the settlers’ enemies attacking the child, Ahmed Manasra.”

A keyword search on Google using the name: Ahmed Mansara film revealed that the claim that this clip shows a staged attack on children have been circulating since 2022.

An X user, @avikaner, had in a post in April 2022 raised alarm that the footage might be used for misinformation to incite violence.

His post in 2022 read: “Palestinians “stage” a killing, using actors dressed as Jewish and @IDF. These fake images will be used to incite violence and misery. @amnesty @hrw will use it as “evidence.”

Reuters also in April 2022 published a fact-check debunking the above X post, noting that the clip does not show Palestinians staging a fake killing.

According to Reuters, it shows the filming of a short movie titled “Empty Place,” directed by Awni Eshtaiwe, which is based on events that led up to the imprisonment of Palestinian Ahmed Manasra.

“The scene viewable at 1:15 in the short film corresponds to the footage circulating online. The individual on the ground and the clothes he is wearing match the social media footage.

“Empty Place” director Awni Eshtaiwe told Reuters the footage circulating online was taken during filming of his short movie,” the report stated.

In conclusion, the footage neither shows Israelis nor Palestinians staging killing of children in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video showed a child allegedly being shot is MISLEADING; findings show that the footage is from a behind-the scene of a movie titled “Empty Place” and shot in 2022 and not related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

 

* This fact-check was written by Rejoice Taddy, a fellow of the ICIR’s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project, supported by the German Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.

Claim that a councillor in Hadejia LGA supports his constituents with swallow food is FALSE

Ibrahim Ukashatu Wakili
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Claim that a councillor in Hadejia LGA supports his constituents with swallow food is FALSE

A claim has been circulating on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) that a councilor in the Hadejia local government area of Jigawa state in Nigeria has distributed swallow (food) to his constituents, to ease their suffering as a result of hardship Nigerians are facing.

The post has circulated widely on many Hausa bloggers’ pages and social media influencers’ profiles on Facebook and X, as seen here, here and here.

Below are the texts of one of the posts in Hausa language:

“WATÀ SABUWA: Wani Kansila Ya Tallafawa Ƴan Mazaɓarsa Da Tuwo

Wani Kansila ya gwangwaje al’ummar mazabarsa da tallafi (EMPOWERMENT) na malmalar tuwo a Hadejia dake Jahar Jigawa.

Wani abin da ya daga hankali a kafafen sadarwa da ya jawo cece-kuce shi ne, yadda duk wanda ya zo amsar tallafin tuwon sai an haska shi a hoto saboda ya zama shaidar ya karɓa.

Ya kuke kallon wannan tallafin ?”

The translation in English reads:

“A councilor supports his constituents with Swallow.

A councilor distributed swallow-food support (Empowerment) to his constituents in the Hadejia local government area of Jigawa state.

One thing that catches the attention of people on social media is how beneficiaries’ pictures are being taken at the moment they are collecting the support to serve as witnesses.

What is your view on this?”

 

CLAIM

Images show a Councilor distributing swallow-food support (for empowerment) to his constituents in the Hadejia local government area of Jigawa state.

A collage of screenshots of the viral post. INSERT: FALSE Verdict.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by this reporter show that the claim is FALSE.

After subjecting the images to Google Reverse Image search, it was discovered that the two pictures dated back to 2020 with another claim published by a Hausa news blog: Hutu Dole with an headline that reads: Hotuna: Yadda wani kauye ke raba tallafin tuwo a sakamakon corona.

When translated into English, it reads: “In Pictures: How one village distributes swallow-food as support to cushion the effects of coronavirus.”

There have been multiple narratives surrounding the images which has resurfaced online multiple times.

Although this reporter could not independently confirm the actual narrative behind the images, the photos are not related to any food distribution or empowerment by any councillor in the Hadejia local government area of Jigawa state Nigeria.

Further checks using Who posted what? – a Facebook OSINT tool – revealed that the images resurfaced online and the new claim were posted by one Abū Bakr Algebra who admitted that the post was just another satirical piece.

He made the post on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 11:25 a.m and it has generated over 110 reactions, over 41 comments, and about 35 shares.

When this reporter contacted Salisu Sogi Hadejia, an Hadejia Local Government official who is also the media aide to the local government Chairman, he debunked the claim.

“We are not aware of anything like distribution of swallow-food to constituents; out of the 11 ward councilors in Hadejia Local Government, not a single one of them conduct such empowerment or any of its kind. We don’t know who is sharing this information or their intent,” Salisu Sogi Hadejia said.

Nigerians are facing severe economic hardship following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy, though the federal and state governments have launched many programmes to cushion the effects of the hardship.

The Federal Government approves N5bn palliative for each state and many states flagged off the distribution of food items to their respective citizens to ease their sufferings.

 

THE VERDICT

Claim that images showing a councillor distributing swallow-food to his constituents in the Hadejia local government area of Jigawa state, Nigeria is FALSE; findings indicate that the photos have been online since 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and not related to any empowerment programme in the council area.

 

* This fact-check was written by Ibrahim Ukashatu Wakili, a fellow of the ICIR’s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project, supported by the German Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.

Online misinformation trails Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi governorship polls

FactCheckHub
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Online misinformation trails Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi governorship polls

Online misinformation has continued to trail the collation of governorship poll results and the announcement of winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as citizens of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states in Nigeria elected their state’s chief executives.

Channels TV reports that the INEC has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hope Uzodinma, as the duly re-elected governor of Imo state as well as the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, as the newly elected governor of Kogi state.

The electoral umpire on Sunday night however says it has adjourned the collation of the Bayelsa governorship poll results till Monday noon.

READ: 2023 Off-cycle elections: Claims fact-checked ahead of Nov. 11 governorship polls

“Results from six of the eight local government areas in the state namely Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Yenegoa, Sagbama, Nembe and Ekeremor have been collated. The remaining local government areas are Brass and Southern Ijaw.

“Prof Faruq Kuta, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, and the state Returning Officer for the election in Bayelsa adjourned the exercise on Sunday night,” Channels TV reported.

It will be recalled that a total of 18 registered political parties fielded a combined 51 governorship candidates in the 3 states in the November 11 off-cycle election. The FactCheckHub reports that 48 of them are male while 3 are female.

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) brings you live-check of election-related misinformation and disinformation spreading online and on television post-Election Day.

Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?

Send it to the NFC via HERE.

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks. Kindly scroll downward to read the checks.

ALSO READ: Governorship polls hold in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi (LIVE-CHECK)

Here are the live-checks:

Claim 10

State: Imo State

CLAIM: Facebook and Instagram users share a video showing burning vehicles with a claim that the incumbent governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, bombed the Awo Omamma Community.

FINDINGS: A keyframe analysis of the footage using the INVID video verification plug-in showed that it was captured in 2021 as seen here, and here. News reports documented that the fire incident was a result of reprisal attacks between military men and gunmen in the Ishieke junction area of the Awo Ommama community in Oru East LGA, Imo state.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: INVID; BBC Pidgin, and Punch

DATE: 12/11/2023

AUTHOR: Elizabeth Ogunbamowo

EDITORS: Simbiat Bakare

Claim 9

STATE: Kogi state.

CLAIM: A Facebook blog, Kogi global media, has claimed that the police arrested Olayinka Braimoh, the governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Kogi state on Election Day (Nov 11).

FINDINGS: William Ovye, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, confirmed the arrest, stating that Braimoh was apprehended on Election Day for violating the state’s movement restriction order.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: William Ovye, Kogi Police spokesman

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): Sunday Awosoro.

EDITORS: OPEYEMI KEHINDE

DATE: 12/11/2023

Claim 8

State: Imo State

CLAIM: A Facebook page, Idan News Blog, on Nov. 11 2023, shared a video showing burning shops with the claim that it emanated from the 2023 Imo State governorship election.

FINDINGS: NFC carried out a Google Reverse Image search on some of the keyframes in the footage, which showed a similar video on Nov. 23, 2021 on a Facebook page, BT Afrika, with a different context. According to the page, the damaged shops and fire are the aftermath of Nigeria soldiers’ shootout with some unknown gunmen. The Cable also reported the event.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Google, The Cable

DATE: 12/11/2023

AUTHOR: Muktar Balogun

EDITORS: Bamas Victoria and Simbiat Bakare

Claim 7

State: Bayelsa State

CLAIM:  “Journalist101” in an article published on its website Nov 12, 2023 claims INEC officials are held hostage in Brass LGA of Bayelsa, and the commission is seeking help.

FINDING: In a tweet shared on its official X handle, INEC confirms that its officials are held hostage in Brass LGA and has urged security agencies to come to their aid.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: INEC

DATE: 12/11/2023

AUTHOR: Catherine Adeniyi

EDITOR: Bamas Victoria

Claim 6

State: Imo State

CLAIM: A Facebook user, CODED IQ Comedies, on Nov 10, 2023 claimed that TVC has threatened to sue Governor Hope Uzodinmma over a viral video alleging that PDP candidate Samuel Anyanwu stepped down for the incumbent governor.

FINDING: The television station issued a disclaimer that the manipulation in the video must have emerged from “unknown parties”. The television station only debunked the report and did not threaten to sue Uzodinma or anyone.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: TVC

DATE: 12/11/2023

AUTHOR: Muktar Balogun

EDITOR: Bamas Victoria

Claim 5

STATE: Kogi

CLAIM : An X (formerly Twitter) user @Uyscutti claimed the PDP governorship candidate in Kogi, Dino Melaye, did not mobilise party agents for the election.

FINDINGS: NFC contacted reporters on the field and they confirmed that PDP agents were on the ground at various polling units in Kogi state. Reporters from Premium Times, Qosim Suleiman, and the ICIR, Bankole Abe, said they met PDP agents in all polling units they visited.

VERDICT : INCORRECT

SOURCES : Premium Times & ICIR reporters

DATE : 12/11/2023

FACT_CHECK AUTHORS : Nurudeen Akewushola

EDITORS : KEMI BUSARI & OPEYEMI KEHINDE

Claim 4

STATE: Imo State

CLAIM: An X (formerly Twitter) User @mindset_post claimed that there were no voters in Okwuabala Ihioma in Orlu LGA as the number of accredited voters on the results sheet in the area was zero.

FINDINGS: A careful scrutiny of the result sheet shows that the number of accredited voters on the result sheet is six hundred and seventy-eight (678), while the number of spoiled ball ot papers is zero (0). The result from the said polling unit was uploaded on INEC IREV’s portal.

Voting didn’t take place in seven (7) polling units in Orlu LGA, according to a YIAGA Africa’s statement which clarified voting status across different locations in the state. The ICIR had also reported that the LP candidate in the state had called for the cancellation of results in some polling units due to crisis and absence of security personnel in parts of Orlu and Orsu.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: INEC iRev, YIAGA Africa, ICIR, NFC

DATE: 12/11/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): Fatimah Quadri

EDITOR: OPEYEMI KEHINDE

Claim 3

STATE: Imo state

CLAIM: An X user, Mo-Mo (@Morris_Monye), claimed that a Labour Party representative was “beaten up” by miscreants suspected to be APC party loyalists at the Imo collation centre in the presence of some Nigerian policemen and it was covered by national television stations present at the scene.

FINDINGS: NFC watched available videos on TVC and Channels TV and also spoke with Tunde Ososanya of the BBC who revealed that a Labour Party agent, Calistus Ihejiagwa, was beaten up by security officers, and not APC thugs. This was because Ihejiagwa fervently disrupted the collation proceeding when the Orlu LGA was about to be collated. Ihejiagwa had earlier filed a petition to the state’s returning officer, Prof Abayomi Fashina, FUOYE’s Vice Chancellor, who explained that his jurisdiction does not cover accepting petitions, and thus delaying the collation process for more than an hour.

VERDICT: MISLEADING.

SOURCES: TVC, Channels TV, BBC

DATE: 12/11/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR: Phillip Anjorin

EDITOR: OPEYEMI KEHINDE

Claim 2

STATE: Imo State

CLAIM: A Facebook page, Kogi Global Media, claimed that Governor Hope Uzodinma has won the elections in all local governments of the state.

FINDINGS: According to Premium Times, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress as winner of the Imo State governorship election. Uzodinma won the elections in the 27 local governments of the state with a total vote of 523,817. This was also reported by Channels TV and Arise News.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Premium Times, Arise News, Channels Television.

DATE: 12/11/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): Faruk Shuaibu

EDITOR: OPEYEMI KEHINDE

Claim 1

STATE:  Kogi state

CLAIM: PDP candidate, Dino Melaye, posted a video alleging that fake policemen were caught in Ankpa local government area of Kogi state.

FINDINGS: Williams Ovye, Kogi Police spokesman, said the men (policemen) were arrested in Ankpa local government because they were not with their ID cards and were not supposed to be accompanying any official. He stated that the policemen were arrested for breaking that law, adding that they were not fake officers.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: William Ovye, Kogi Police spokesman.

DATE: 12/11/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): Lademi Aborisade

EDITORS: OPEYEMI KEHINDE

 

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This live-check was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab); Daniel Adaji, Farida Salifu (NatureNews); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Lois Ugbede, Cole Praise, Temilade Onilede, Lateef Sanni, Sunday Awosoro, Philip Anjorin, Lade Aborisade, Maxine Danso (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Allwell Okpi, Fatimah Abubakar, Muktar Balogun, Semilore Adelola, Denzel Amobi, (Africa Check); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Rejoice Ewodage, Hannah Ajakaiye (FactsMatterNG); Claire Mom (The Cable); Temiloluwa Erinle, Alefia Friday James, Muyiwa Adekojede (RoundCheck); Theophilus Adedokun; Shehu Olayinka, Blessing Otoibhi (ICIR).

It was edited and approved for publication by Kemi Busari, Simbiat Bakare (Dubawa), Motunrayo Joel, David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat (CCIJ), Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub) and Bamas Victoria (ICIR).

Online disinformation: UNESCO announces plan to regulate social media platforms

Fatimah Quadri
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Online disinformation: UNESCO announces plan to regulate social media platforms

THE Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has said the regulation of social media platforms is imminent to protect access to information “while at the same time protecting freedom of expression and human rights.”

She disclosed this recently in a statement released by the United Nations’ agency, while unveiling its action plan to tackle the prevalence of online disinformation and hate speech, describing it as a major threat to global stability and social cohesion.

“Digital technology has enabled immense progress on freedom of speech. But social media platforms have also accelerated and amplified the spread of false information and hate speech, posing major risks to societal cohesion, peace and stability. To protect access to information, we must regulate these platforms without delay, while at the same time protecting freedom of expression and human rights,” Azoulay said.

The statement noted that over 10,000 contributions from 134 nations were gathered over the course of the last eighteen months, concluding in a consultation process that was unique in the history of the United Nations system to create the UNESCO’s action plan.

The action plan covers the values that need to be upheld alongside the specific actions that all parties involved—governments, regulatory bodies, civil society, and the platforms themselves – must take.

Independent regulators have already applauded UNESCO’s idea, and some of them—most notably in Latin America and Africa—have said they are prepared to start putting these policies into action. In mid-2024, UNESCO will host the inaugural World Conference of Regulators in order to achieve this goal, the statement added.

It further stated that the organization shall additionally provide assistance to its Member States in incorporating this action plan into their respective legal frameworks.

Azoulay said that safeguarding the right to free speech and all other human rights at all times has served as the cornerstone of the organisation’s activity. She added that limiting or restricting speech would be a bad idea noting that the best long-term reaction to misinformation is to have independent, high-quality, and free media outlets and information tools.

Alongside the release of the action plan, the IPSOS conducted a poll for UNESCO that included over 8,000 respondents from 16 countries that will host elections in 2024. At a time when social media platforms have become the primary source of information for a significant majority of citizens, it indicates that 85% of citizens are concerned about the influence of online disinformation.

According to the same survey, 87% of respondents think that the disinformation has already had a significant impact on their nation’s political landscape and are afraid that it will have an impact on the outcomes of the elections that will take place next year.

Consequently, 88% of respondents are urging authorities and lawmakers to act swiftly to regulate social media in order to address this issue.

LIVE-CHECK: Governorship polls hold in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi today

FactCheckHub
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LIVE-CHECK: Governorship polls hold in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi today

The electorate in 3 States of the Nigerian federation will today elect their respective state’s chief executives in an off-cycle governorship election. The states are Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

All 18 registered political parties in Nigeria are fielding a combined 51 governorship candidates in the 3 states in today’s election. 48 of them are male while 3 are female.

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) brings you live-check of election-related misinformation and disinformation spreading online and on television on the Election Day.

Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?

Send it to the NFC via HERE.

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks. Kindly scroll downward to read the checks.

READ: 2023 Off-cycle elections: Claims fact-checked ahead of Nov. 11 governorship polls

Our team of researchers, fact-checkers, social media monitors, editors, misinformation & disinformation experts drawn from the coalition partners, are working from the coalition’s Election Situation Rooms located in Abuja and Lagos, to debunk misinformation and disinformation contents targeted at inciting violence and voter’s apathy on Election Day or influencing the outcome of elections.

Here are the live-checks:

Claim 16

CLAIM: Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said, “When I came in 2020, we had an internally generated revenue profile of less than N500 million.”

FINDING: Internally generated revenue for states published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Imo state’s internally generated revenue in 2019 was N16.095 billion, an average of N1.34 billion monthly. Between October and December 2019, the state generated N2.99 billion, an average of N996.67 million. It generated N3.08 billion from January to March 2020, an average of N1.03 billion monthly.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: NBS

DATE: 10/11/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): ALLWELL OKPI

EDITORS:  DAVID AJIKOBI & SIMBIAT BAKARE

Claim 15

STATE: Imo

CLAIM: A Twitter user @ChidiOdinkalu claims that IReV passwords to be used by  Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) have been retrieved from LGA supervisors in Imo state without reason.

FINDING: Mary Nkem, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, told the NFC that the claim is untrue. She said Presiding Officers (POs) and not APOs are responsible for uploading results on the IReV. According to her, all passwords have been “securely released” for use by designated officials in line with the commission’s guidelines.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Director, Voter Education and Publicity Mary Nkem

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 14

STATE: Kogi

CLAIM: PDP gubernatorial candidate Senator Dino Melaye tweeted a press statement that the LP and PDP have formed an alliance in Kogi and have resolved to adopt him as the candidate for both parties.

FINDING: The LP spokesperson Yinusa Tanko debunked it. In a phone interview, he told DUBAWA that he was unaware of such an alliance. There is also no such press release on the LP’s website or social media pages.

VERDICT: Incorrect

SOURCES: LP spokesperson Yinusa Tanko

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 13

STATE: Kogi State

CLAIM: An X (Twitter) user @TheSerahIbrahim claimed that the results sheet has already been filled in Kogi state while elections are yet to begin.

FINDING:  According to news reports by Daily Trust and Leadership Newspapers, YIAGA Africa had raised the alarm of discovered pre-filled election results from the Eni ward of Ogori/Mangogo and Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of the state on X while calling on INEC to investigate the issue. INEC also confirmed the incident via a post on X

VERDICT: Correct

SOURCES: Daily Trust, Leadership and Yiaga Africa

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 12

STATE: Imo state

CLAIM: An X user, Nwa (@nwaadaz), claimed that according to TCT News, the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, killed more than 500 youths in his first tenure.

FINDING:  Over 400 deaths through violence were recorded in Imo between Jan. 2019 and Dec. 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, more than 25 fatalities were recorded. There was insufficient evidence to prove the number of youth fatalities within Uzodinma’s first term; however, no death reports were attributed to him. There is also no news platform called TCT News.

VERDICT: Incorrect

SOURCES: Foundation for Partnership  Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND)

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 11

STATE: Imo state

CLAIM: An X user, Sonia (unahsonia), shared some pictures of a burnt vehicle and claimed that it was the result of electoral violence sponsored by the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma.

FINDINGS: We ran a reverse image search on both pictures and discovered the incident is not recent. It happened around 8 am on Oct. 2, 2023, at Ezzangbo junction along Abakaliki Enugu highway, Ohanukwu LGA, Ebonyi state.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Google Lens

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 10

STATE: IMO

CLAIM: A video shared by Facebook user @ONYII NWA IMO claimed that Imo voters have resorted to staying indoors as only a few people are at different polling units in Owerri, the state capital.

FINDING: Tunde Ososanya, a BBC Reporter covering the election in Imo, in a telephone conversation, confirmed that the incident of low voter turnout in Owerri and other parts of Imo State is true. He noted that the low turnout might be tied to heavy security presence in the state. This was also corroborated by Mark Adebayo, spokesperson of the Coalition of Political Parties in Nigeria, in an interview with TVC news.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: BBC Reporter Tunde Ososanya & Spokesperson of the Coalition of Political             Parties in Nigeria Mark Adebayo, in an interview with TVC news.

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 9

STATE: Bayelsa State

CLAIM: Morris Monye, a prominent Labour Party member, claimed on X there was a bomb blast near INEC Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, involving explosives.

FINDING:  We searched for this on credible media platforms covering the election but none published such. The police PRO said there was indeed an explosion in Kpansia (over a kilometre away), earlier in the week but not at INEC Road as claimed.

VERDICT: Misleading

SOURCES: Google, Bayelsa police

DATE: 11 – 11 – 23

CLAIM LINK: https://x.com/Morris_Monye/status/1722949569946820873?s=20

Claim 8

STATE: Imo State

CLAIM: An X user claimed security operatives intercepted a Labour Party chieftain with money and voting materials at Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo State.

FINDING: The NFC contacted the Imo police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, who said the claim was false. We observed that the images used by the claimant had been taken from various unrelated incidents in the past. A Google reverse image search on the first image showing a bag of money revealed that the image was taken from the 2019 election in Benue and the fourth during the 2023 elections.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Imo police spokesperson; The Guardian; ICIR

DATE: 11/11/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): Elizabeth Ogunbamowo

Claim 7

STATE:  Kogi state

CLAIM: The governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, claimed that the reports of electoral violence under his leadership are untrue.

FINDING: The Centre for Democracy and Development, in its 2019 post-election document after an off-cycle poll conducted in Kogi, reported ten deaths and 79 cases of violence and election malpractices across the 21 LGAs in the state. There were also recorded cases of violence, such as the kidnapping of INEC officials and an attack on SDP candidate Murtala Ajaka in the build-up to the ongoing election.

VERDICT:  INCORRECT

SOURCES: CDD and media reports

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 6

STATE: Kogi State

CLAIM: Parallel Facts on Twitter claimed that INEC officials dispatched to various polling units in Lokoja were stranded at the Ajayi Crowther Memorial School Lokoja.

FINDING: The NFC contacted Premium Times and People Gazette reporters, who both confirmed that although voting is ongoing in the various polling units in Lokoja, there was a delay in the transportation of the INEC officials from the school earlier.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Premium Times and Peoples Gazette reporters

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 5

STATE: Bayelsa

CLAIM: After casting his vote in Bayelsa on Saturday, Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan claimed that seven Nigerian states hold off-cycle elections.

FINDING: Eight states in Nigeria operate on an off-cycle calendar owing to election petition tribunal rulings. The states include Anambra, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Kogi, Osun, Ekiti, and Imo.

VERDICT: Incorrect

SOURCES: Civic Hive and CDD

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 4

STATE: Bayelsa State

CLAIM: Using an image to corroborate his claim, an X user, @DEMAN004, tweeted that armed thugs recently invaded polling units in Bayelsa, in which they hijacked election materials and threatened voters and INEC officials.

FINDING: We analysed the picture with TinEye, a reverse image search engine tool, and discovered that the photo the claimant used to depict the violence is from 2019.

VERDICT: Misleading

SOURCES: TinEye

DATE: 11 – 11 – 23

CLAIM LINK: https://x.com/DEMAN004/status/1723295053848719793?s=20

Claim 3

STATE: Kogi State

CLAIM: Dino Melaye, Kogi PDP governorship candidate, claims INEC officials have filled result sheets ahead of voting, resulting in people’s refusal to vote in the Ogori-Magongo local govt area of Kogi state.

FINDING: YIAGA (election observer group) had raised alarm over pre-recorded election sheets in favour of the APC as reported by Daily Trust and Leadership newspaper and Ogori-Magongo was mentioned as part of the affected local government. INEC said in a statement on its X handle, saying its senior officials had been deployed to the state to investigate this.

VERDICT: Correct

SOURCES: Leadership, Daily Trust newspaper and INEC

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 2

STATE: Imo State

CLAIM: An X user claims Labour Party is winning in Imo State in the current governorship election

FINDING: The post has a result sheet from a polling unit in the state, but that is not enough to reach the conclusion that the Labour Party is currently winning in the state. Results are still being collated on the INEC collation website, so it can’t be proven that the Labour Party is winning.

VERDICT: Unproven

SOURCES: Independent verification

DATE: 11/11/2023

Claim 1

STATE: Imo State

CLAIM: Several Facebook users claimed that security operatives in Imo state arrested Akarachi Amadi, a lawmaker representing Mbaitoli and Ikeduru federal constituency. The posts claimed Amadi was arrested after he allegedly led a group of people to hijack election materials in the area.

FINDING: The NFC contacted Henry Okoye, the Imo police spokesperson. Mr Okoye dismissed the report but promised to provide further details after his findings. A quick keyword search also showed no credible media houses had reported the event.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Imo Police Spokesperson

DATE: 11/11/2023

 

 

 

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This live-check was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab); Daniel Adaji, Farida Salifu (NatureNews); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Lois Ugbede, Cole Praise, Temilade Onilede, Lateef Sanni, Sunday Awosoro, Philip Anjorin, Lade Aborisade, Maxine Danso (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Allwell Okpi, Fatimah Abubakar, Muktar Balogun, Semilore Adelola, Denzel Amobi, (Africa Check); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Rejoice Ewodage, Hannah Ajakaiye (FactsMatterNG); Claire Mom (The Cable); Temiloluwa Erinle, Alefia Friday James, Muyiwa Adekojede (RoundCheck); Theophilus Adedokun; Shehu Olayinka, Blessing Otoibhi (ICIR).

It was edited and approved for publication by Kemi Busari, Simbiat Bakare (Dubawa), Motunrayo Joel, David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat (CCIJ), Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub) and Bamas Victoria (ICIR).

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