Hoax-alert: Image of BBC news story on Nigeria’s MMM finance network photoshopped
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"MMM Nigeria Reduces Poverty in Nigeria by 20%," reads a caption on an image of BBC newsreader Nicholas Owen recently shared online and on social media.
The caption goes on to say that the “UK government advises Buhari lead [sic] government to use MMM to create jobs”.
MMM, which calls itself “a community of ordinary people, selflessly helping each other, a kind of the Global Fund of mutual aid” has been controversial in Nigeria. Its proponents say the community provides real financial bailout but sceptics say it is a Ponzi scheme.
The image, however, is a hoax.
Using Google reverse image search, Africa Check found that the original caption read “British hostage released: British national released after operation in Yemen”. We have asked the BBC to confirm this and will update this report should they respond. - 02/12/2016
Additional reading
No, David Cameron – Nigeria is not one of the ‘two most corrupt countries’ in the world
GUIDE: How to spot fakes and hoaxes online
The caption goes on to say that the “UK government advises Buhari lead [sic] government to use MMM to create jobs”.
MMM, which calls itself “a community of ordinary people, selflessly helping each other, a kind of the Global Fund of mutual aid” has been controversial in Nigeria. Its proponents say the community provides real financial bailout but sceptics say it is a Ponzi scheme.
The image, however, is a hoax.
Using Google reverse image search, Africa Check found that the original caption read “British hostage released: British national released after operation in Yemen”. We have asked the BBC to confirm this and will update this report should they respond. - 02/12/2016
Additional reading
No, David Cameron – Nigeria is not one of the ‘two most corrupt countries’ in the world
Are electricity tariffs in Nigeria really the lowest in Africa?
GUIDE: How to spot fakes and hoaxes online
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