Video does NOT show Islamic extremist removing Christmas banner

A Google Lens search of screenshots from the video revealed that it had appeared elsewhere, including in a Facebook post by a user, Just Event Online, uploaded a year earlier. The post, captioned “Senator Saliu Mustapha’s Christmas billboards were mysteriously taken down across Ilorin,” attracted comments suggesting the action was politically motivated.

Further checks showed that the incident was also reported by the Vanguard newspaper.

Vanguard had reported that although the removal was initially linked to suspected hoodlums, the Kwara State government later confirmed taking down two of the billboards.

The General Manager of the Kwara State Signage and Advertising Agency (KWASAA), Ismail Asukuti, said the agency removed some of the structures due to ongoing construction in the area, while another was taken down over non-payment of the required advertisement fees.

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He explained that the billboard at Police ‘A’ Division was removed on the directive of the company handling the overhead bridge project, which had marked it for removal. Asukuti added that the structure at Maraba was dismantled because the advertisement fee was not paid, a violation of the state’s outdoor advertising regulations.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video shows Islamic extremists destroying a Merry Christmas banner is misleading; the Kwara State government confirmed it took down two billboards—one due to construction work and another over unpaid advertising fees.