A video that appears to be of former US President Donald Trump is making the rounds across social media platforms. The video showed Donald Trump chastising Nigerians for protesting their country’s situation. He said, “You Nigerians are so ridiculous, Tinubu has been in office barely 10 months working his tail off, and all you people...
Author: Gbemisola Adebowale
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FACT CHECK: Were 50 Young People Killed in Igbomotoru?
News information circulating on WhatsApp has caught the attention of the CDD War Room. The report, which included graphic images, claimed that the military murdered more than 50 young people in the Igbomotoru community of Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State. The report, attributed to “Hot News Reporters,” also stated that the attacks were linked to the...
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FACT CHECK: Are these claims regarding Putin and Africa true?
A Tiktok account with over 100 thousand likes and 17 thousand followers made a reaction video in which certain statements were made regarding the bilateral relationship between Russia and African countries. In the video, the claim was made that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has issued visa free entrance to anyone who is in possession...
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FACT CHECK: Did the Lagos State Police Commissioner Lead Protest?
A few hours ago, on February 27, 2024, an image circulated on social media suggesting that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State led an ongoing protest in the state. Initially shared by the Daily Trust, a prominent newspaper, the image was accompanied by the caption “Lagos State Commissioner leading the protest along Awolowo Way,...
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FACT CHECK: Did Nigerian Lawmakers Move to Stop Betting in Nigeria?
The claim that Nigerian lawmakers are taking steps to halt sports betting in the country has been widely circulated, particularly by Instablog, a popular gossip blog with a substantial following on Twitter and Instagram. According to their post, the House of Representatives is on the verge of stopping sports betting in Nigeria, following the adoption...
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FACT CHECK: Is Claim About Sack of Tinubu’s Chief of Staff True?
There is currently a circulating claim that Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president, has dismissed Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff. The report, labelled as a developing story and posted on February 6, 2024, suggests that the official announcement of Gbajabiamila’s removal will be made public. This information was reposted by the “phoenix app” and widely...
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FACT CHECK: Is This Birthday Invitation From The Ministry Of Women Affairs?
A document with the letter head of the federal ministry of women affairs, purported to have originated from the ministry, is being circulated across social media platforms. The memo, dated January 29, 2023, and addressed to “all honourable ministers,” contains an invitation to the birthday ceremony of “Double Chief Kennedy Ohanenye,” the spouse of Uju...
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FACT CHECK: Was the former deputy governor of Anambra State assassinated during Peter Obi’s tenure as governor?
The story of the (now-freed) kidnapped family in Abuja sparked outrage on social media. Members of a family of five, known as the #najeebaandhersisters, were kidnapped at their home, and their abductors demanded a ransom of 60 million naira. The family was unable to raise the ransom and turned to social media for assistance. This...
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FACT CHECK: Did the Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal uphold the victory of Abba Yusuf?
The Supreme Court recently delivered judgement in pending governorship election petition cases on January 12, 2024. On the Arise TV Good Morning Show, Reuben Abati, while analysing the litigious nature of the 2023 general election, noted that the cases of Ebonyi and Bauchi were straightforward due to consistent decisions by the tribunal and appellate courts. However,...
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FACT SHIELD: Key Lessons From Repeated Disinformation Targeting Former South African Leader, Mbeki
On January 3, 2024, as individuals and families on the African continent were sharing “happy new year” messages, the disinformation machine went into overdrive. The target of the disinformation was former South African President Thabo Mbeki. The false claim that flooded social media was that Mbeki, who succeeded anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, had died. This...