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Old image of armed suspect falsely shared as recent RRS arrest in Lagos

Nurudeen Akewushola
Nurudeen Akewushola
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screenshot of the viral post

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AN image showing a suspect with three locally made pistols has resurfaced online with a claim that it shows an Igbo man recently arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos State.

The image was posted on X by a user, @Onsogbu, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, with the caption:

“BREAKING News!!! Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested the most wanted criminal and gang leader, Emeka Igwe (aka odogwu) at Toyota bus-stop near Oshodi, Lagos. Three locally-made pistols were recovered from him.”

As of December 12, 2025, the post had generated over 194,000 views, 629 reposts, 175 likes, 118 bookmarks, and 48 quote posts.

Many reactions suggested the suspect was a criminal recently arrested amid Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, with some comments expressing ethnic sentiments.

CLAIM

Image shows an Igbo man recently arrested by RRS operatives in Lagos with three locally made pistols.

screenshot of the viral post

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

The claim is circulating amid a surge in killings, kidnappings, and other violent crimes across Nigeria, particularly in November 2025, when terrorists and unidentified gunmen carried out repeated attacks in different parts of the country.

In response, Nigerian security agencies intensified operations against bandit camps and criminal hideouts, leading to arrests and casualties among armed groups.

This heightened security situation has made the public more susceptible to viral claims involving arrests and the recovery of weapons.

A Google Reverse Image Search conducted by The FactCheckHub traced the image to April 2022. The image was published by The Nation and Eagle Online on April 30, 2022, in a report about the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect named Emeka Igwe in Lagos State.

According to the report, Emeka Igwe was arrested for theft during traffic gridlocks in Lagos. He was identified as the leader of a cult group known as “Aro-Baga,” which reportedly carried out robbery attacks on motorists and pedestrians stuck in traffic.

VERDICT

The claim is MISLEADING. The image does not show a recent arrest linked to Nigeria’s current security operations. It dates back to April 2022 and is being reshared out of context.

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Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.

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