By Pascal Ibe
There is a compelling need to address the protracted and recurring multidimensional insecurity in Nigeria. The prevalence of insecurity in the country is multipronged and caught in a cyclic web.
Insecurity in Nigeria comprises insurgency, killer herdsmen, extrajudicial killings, ethnoreligious conflict, armed robbery, militancy, banditry, cybercrime and attacks by unknown gunmen, among other things.
Two weeks ago, over 20 Medical students were abducted in Benue but regained freedom about a week after. A Sokoto District Head was also abducted and killed 24 hours after he begged for help in a viral video.
There has by many unreported incidents on killings, abduction across Nigeria.
As these have continued, on Tuesday morning (August 27, 2024), WhatsApp users shared a gory video of many persons killed by terrorists.
The 57 seconds video showed terrorists on motorcycle firming the corpses they have slaughtered.
In a WhatsApp group named, IkoroNDIGBO ASSEMBLY, a member posted this video with caption, “ZAMFARA STATEJesus Christ 😭😭😭 is dis a country?“
In another group, Human Rights Defenders, a member shared the same clip and wrote, “Good morning Nigerians.
In yet another WhatsApp group, ANAMBRA PAST MARKET LEADERS, a member posted the video and said, “Good morning Nigerians, truly, Nigeria is in a state of real War, You see now“.
Many WhatsApp users expressed sadness over the ugly incident in Nigeria and queried why these terrorists have continued unchallenged.
FactWatch observed that this video has gone in many WhatsApp groups and decided to run a fact check on the video.
Verification
First, when this Fact Checker subjected the key frames from the video to Google image reverse search, results showed that the incident occurred in Burkina Faso.
Results by Google image reverse search, led this Fact Checker to a post on X by @MaixSome on August 24, 2024.
The X user MaixSome posted this same video and wrote in French, “#Burkina : Comme d’habitude, ils n’en parlent pas et diabolisent ceux qui osent en témoigner en les traitant d’apatrides, de traîtres et de complices des terroristes…
Là, ce sont des villageois réquisitionnés pour creuser des tranchées pour l’armée.
Elle ne les a pas protégés!
FactWatch translated this from French to English language using Google translator and it reads, “#Burkina: As usual, they don’t talk about it and demonize those who dare to testify about it by calling them stateless, traitors and accomplices of terrorists…
There, they are villagers requisitioned to dig trenches for the army.
She didn’t protect them!“
Another X user known as SahelLeals shared the video and said, “#Burkina: le #JNIM à revendiqué hier l’attaque de #Barsalogho “contre les milices [VDP]”. Sur les images des dizaines de corps d’hommes en civil sont visibles. Des pelles & des claquettes au sol, pas d’armes. Des civils réquisitionnés pour creuser les tranchées des militaires.
The translation of this from French to English to using Google translator below 👇
When this Fact Checker entered keywords, “Killings in Burkina Faso“, reports confirmed that a militant group with links to al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed up to 200 people and injured 140.
According to Punch, The latest attack was carried out by armed men in the village of Barsalogho in north-central Burkina Faso on Saturday.
The assailants targeted “women, children, elderly, men, making no distinction”, Ouedraogo said on national television.
A local resident told AFP by phone that the assault happened around 9:00 am on Saturday, when “terrorist groups attacked the village, killing numerous civilians and security personnel”.
A security source who asked not to be named said there were “several dozen dead” including civilians and security forces.
See other news publications that reported this incident Here, Here and Here.
Verdict
The claim by WhatsApp users that the viral video in which many people were Killed, happened in Nigeria recently, is MISLEADING.
Simple findings showed the incident took place in Burkina Faso last week.
