A photo posted on Facebook shows six nearly naked men lying on the ground, seemingly dead. A crowd of people stands around them.
“These are SLAIN BIAFRANS. Their crime? Peaceful protest of a referendum, Nigeria is worse than a shithole,” text above the photo reads.
The photo was posted on the Facebook page “Biafra News chanel” on 30 August 2020. The page describes itself as “where u get information regarding Biafra and the suffering of ndi Igbo”.
In 1967, just seven years after Nigeria gained independence from British colonialism, the southern region of Biafra, which has a large Igbo population, declared itself an independent state. Nigeria’s government rejected the secession. A brutal civil war followed.
More than 50 years on, Biafra’s sympathisers continue to call for its independence.
On 23 August, members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) clashed with state security operatives in Nigeria’s Enugu state, according to media reports and the organisation itself. There were casualties on both sides, with Ipob saying 21 of its members were killed.
But the photo is not of this incident, nor does it show “slain Biafrans”. It is at least three years old and the men were reportedly kidnappers killed by police.
A reverse image search reveals that the photo was published on several websites and blogs on 9 November 2017. “SARS Kill 6 Notorious Kidnappers In Cross River State,” one headline reads.
In November 2017, there were several news reports that suspected kidnappers had been killed by a police special anti-robbery squad during a gun battle in the Ikom local government area of Cross River state.
The men had reportedly abducted a woman. – Motunrayo Joel
“These are SLAIN BIAFRANS. Their crime? Peaceful protest of a referendum, Nigeria is worse than a shithole,” text above the photo reads.
The photo was posted on the Facebook page “Biafra News chanel” on 30 August 2020. The page describes itself as “where u get information regarding Biafra and the suffering of ndi Igbo”.
What is Biafra?
In 1967, just seven years after Nigeria gained independence from British colonialism, the southern region of Biafra, which has a large Igbo population, declared itself an independent state. Nigeria’s government rejected the secession. A brutal civil war followed.
More than 50 years on, Biafra’s sympathisers continue to call for its independence.
Special anti-robbery squad action in Cross River state
On 23 August, members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) clashed with state security operatives in Nigeria’s Enugu state, according to media reports and the organisation itself. There were casualties on both sides, with Ipob saying 21 of its members were killed.
But the photo is not of this incident, nor does it show “slain Biafrans”. It is at least three years old and the men were reportedly kidnappers killed by police.
A reverse image search reveals that the photo was published on several websites and blogs on 9 November 2017. “SARS Kill 6 Notorious Kidnappers In Cross River State,” one headline reads.
In November 2017, there were several news reports that suspected kidnappers had been killed by a police special anti-robbery squad during a gun battle in the Ikom local government area of Cross River state.
The men had reportedly abducted a woman. – Motunrayo Joel
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
A fact-checker has rated your Facebook or Instagram post as “false”, “altered”, “partly false” or “missing context”. This could have serious consequences. What do you do?
Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
Africa Check is a partner in Meta's third-party fact-checking programme to help stop the spread of false information on social media.
The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
Further Reading
ARISE TV/YOUTUBE
Fact-checking claims by Nigerian presidential hopefuls at the Arise TV town hall
Three presidential election contenders recently outlined their plans if elected in 2023. We took a closer look at some of their claims.
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