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Misleading photo of truckload of firearms in US used as false evidence in Nigeria

A Facebook post claims a fake military base, occupied by armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals, has been discovered at Okpokwu in Benue state, Nigeria.

It says: “These are militias killing people in the disguise of Fulani herdsmen.”

The May 2018 post has been shared 14,000 times. It includes a photo of a truck off-loading a large number of rifles.



Photo used in another false claim


But this photo has been used as false evidence multiple times. Africa Check debunked a false claim about it in July 2017 and another one in May 2019.

The photo was actually taken in 2008 in the US by photographer David McNew for Getty Images, a stock photo agency.

Illegal military base burnt down


On 7 September 2017, Nigerian Channels TV reported that an illegal training school in Okpoga in Benue state was burnt down by the Nigerian navy. 

Twenty-eight fake naval trainees and their commandant were arrested. But there was no report of them being armed robbers, kidnappers or criminals.

The two buildings burnt down look similar to the ones in the Facebook post. However, the picture of the truck-load of guns has nothing to do with Nigeria. – Motunrayo Joel 




 

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