By Pascal Ibe

Claim 

X users posted video where angry mob attacked Nigerian embassy in Dakar, Senegal and claimed the act was carried out by Igbos recently.

Verdict

This claim is MISLEADING.

Keywords search shows that the incident happened in 2013 over the disappearance of death body of a Nigerian from a hospital morgue.

Full Text

The problem of tribalism is that people of different tribes are separated from each other. The tribe members usually identify with their tribe very strongly and they feel truly connected only with people of their own beliefs. They often have set stereotypes about the other tribes, which prevent them from broadening their mind, learning more about different cultures and befriending people who do not belong to their own tribe. 

Tribalism has been elevated to dominate national discourse, controls how people think and talk, and determines what they oppose or support. It is promoted by the political elites, embraced by the young and the old, passed from generation to generation, and even has base in the constitution. This explains the assumption that conflicts in Nigeria is motivated by ethnic competition.

On social media, many persons now use anything or means to drag or mock other tribe, most especially on crimes.

On X, @Riddware, a self acclaimed aide to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  posted a video on August 25 2024,  where angry mob attacked Nigerian embassy in Dakar Senegal and claimed the act was carried out by Igbos there.

In the 5 minutes video, irate persons were seen vandalizing the building which is said to be the Nigerian embassy. Cars and other properties were also destroyed.

Another user, @NoNosensezone shared this video and wrote, “A trending video circulating social media shows men from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria attacking an Embassy in Dakar Senegal , looting and Vandalising Properties.

The post generated over 39k and more 500 reposts. Many users who believed that this happened recently, condemned the act.

.https://twitter.com/Goddey4evrybody/status/1827677474638987458?t=ziQDgvwWVEPWpPaYp__5rA&s=19 

Verification

First, this Fact Checker did a keyword search, “NIGERIA EMBASSY IN SENEGAL ATTACHED“, Google results indicated that the incident happened around March 2023.

The Google results led FactWatch to a video posted  by Diaspora TV Switzerland in 2013 on YouTube.

The YouTube channel captioned video, “Nigerians destroyed thier embassy in Senegal.

We also found video by Channel TV in which the Nigeria House of Representatives condemned this ugly ugly.

According to report by Premium Times,  the attack on Nigerian Embassy building in Dakar, Senegal was as a result of alleged disappearance of death body of a Nigerian from a hospital morgue, Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal, Mrs. Katyen Jackden, said.

You can also see this report Here and Here 

There’s no single evidence anywhere that the incident on Nigerian embassy in Dakar, Senegal was perpetrated by Igbos only.

Conclusion

After Findings, FactWatch discovered that X users intentionally recirculated this video to drag the Igbos and mislead the public.