An article shared on Facebook claims that the United States president, Donald Trump, is supporting the establishment of an independent Biafra in south-east Nigeria by pledging US$200 billion to build an oil refinery “in the Biafraland”.
The article says that “the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu got the message from Trump that the money will be forward to his account during their next meeting in the US”.
“Biafra oil refinery will be one of the best in the whole world… using the $200Billion US Dollars for building an oil refinery in the Biafraland and as well for the development of Biafra ahead of Biafra independence...”
But is there evidence for this pledge?
The report provides no further details about the message Kanu supposedly received from Trump. And Africa Check found no evidence linking the US president with the Indigenous People of Biafra, who want an independent country.
There is no mention of any meetings between Trump and Kanu on the US president’s public schedule calendar. Trump’s diplomatic meetings are usually reported by the US media, but have not publicised any meetings between Trump and Kanu.
Trump has also not mentioned Biafra on Twitter, where he tweets prolifically.
There is no mention of financial support for Kanu or the Indigenous People of Biafra to be found on the website of the US state department.
In May 2019, the US embassy in Nigeria told Africa Check that a report claiming that the US had endorsed Biafra was “fake news”. This newer article is also false. – Allwell Okpi
The article says that “the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu got the message from Trump that the money will be forward to his account during their next meeting in the US”.
“Biafra oil refinery will be one of the best in the whole world… using the $200Billion US Dollars for building an oil refinery in the Biafraland and as well for the development of Biafra ahead of Biafra independence...”
But is there evidence for this pledge?
No credible link between US president and Biafra
The report provides no further details about the message Kanu supposedly received from Trump. And Africa Check found no evidence linking the US president with the Indigenous People of Biafra, who want an independent country.
There is no mention of any meetings between Trump and Kanu on the US president’s public schedule calendar. Trump’s diplomatic meetings are usually reported by the US media, but have not publicised any meetings between Trump and Kanu.
Trump has also not mentioned Biafra on Twitter, where he tweets prolifically.
There is no mention of financial support for Kanu or the Indigenous People of Biafra to be found on the website of the US state department.
In May 2019, the US embassy in Nigeria told Africa Check that a report claiming that the US had endorsed Biafra was “fake news”. This newer article is also false. – Allwell Okpi
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