Fact Check
FACT CHECK: Is picture of nine dead people that of Biafrans killed by Nigerian authorities
Claim: Dear @realDonaldTrump @FinGovernment @alexstubb @Ulkoministerio this is how Nigeria Terrorist is killing Biafra and Christians and that’s what @simon_ekpa is preventing. Self defense is not a crime.
Full text
Over the years, terrorism and kidnapping have become major problems confronting Nigeria. These menaces have posed a great security threat in the country, with many lives being affected of properties being lost along the line. Hence the rate of insecurity has instigated fear and threat on the masses.
On November 24 2024, an X (formerly Twitter) user @Autopilothomee posted a picture showing nine people wet with blood at the back of a police van. The picture was captioned depicting that the dead people were Biafrans killed by Nigerian authorities.
As at the time of filing this report, the post had amassed over 11,000 views, 50 comments, over 200 reposts, over 190 likes, and 2 Bookmarks.
For example, @OshiomoleN wrote: “I hope you guys are happy when you kill Biafra people like this. Dear @alexstubb can any government kill people they claim to be their citizens like this without judgement.unarmed citizens of Biafra…” Similarly, @big_charlyx commented: “We need liberation from this trap called Nigeria…”
READ ALSO: FACT-CHECK: How true are X users’ claims on Bayelsa State budget, poverty, population figures?
Contrarily, @Danfactsf remarked: “these are kidnappers killed in Lagos, Nigeria that came to kidnap a businessman…”
In a bid to combat misinformation, Ripples Nigeria deemed it necessary to investigate the claim.
Verification
Ripples Nigeria subjected the picture to Google Reverse Image Search, and Google Lens showed that the image has surfaced online since July, 2024.
Moreso, a search of the official social media handles of the Nigerian authorities showed that Lagos State police command had published the same incident on their X account. Through their public relations officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police authority made it known to the public that their operatives eliminated nine criminals during a shoot-out after they received intelligence about the whereabouts of the criminals responsible for numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos State.
Probing further, a keyword search led to several similar reports published by credible media platforms in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Misleading! After an investigation conducted by Ripples Nigeria, our findings revealed that the picture is not recent and it is unrelated with killings in Biafralands.
By: Mutalib Jibril
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