By Pascal Ibe
In this 2024, Misinformation online is growing. New technologies are also making it easier than ever for anyone to substantially edit photos and videos to reflect a reality that doesn’t exist.
Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information. Sometimes it can be as simple as an error in reporting. Other times misinformation content is purposefully exaggerated, using clickbait headlines or out-of-context details to make a story harder to look away from.
The move towards social media as a source of news has allowed misinformation to flourish.
Anyone with a social media account can become a “news” source. For individuals and outlets posting news, the goal is almost always to get seen by as many people as possible. What goes well on social media is not exactly even-keeled and well-researched stories. For posts on large platforms, “outrage is the key to virality”, as social psychologist Jonathan Haidt puts it. Out-of-context details distort what’s real, and thanks to the “share” button, mistaken impressions can run through a large network of people virtually instantly.
Misinformation is like a virus that can be contacted by anyone. Be security experts, Scholars, ordinary individuals as well as journalists who should even know better.
For instance, after the Nigeria Libya faced off when the Libyan authorities intentionally delayed and frustrated the Super Eagles at their airport for over 18 hours, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) began an investigation into it, many Nigerians posted that the Libyan national team has been banned for two years from participating in any CAF matches, they also claimed that CAF imposed a fine of over $30,000 on Libyan national team.
Among those who shared this claim, was an international migration journalist who should have interrogated the claim at first.
This goes a long way to show that anyone can be caught in awe of misinformation and disinformation.
As 2024 is gradually coming to a close, FactWatch collates claims shared by top politicians, social media influencers, and secessionists in and outside Nigeria.
FactWatch is a verification platform for CrimeFacts news, which is based in Nigeria’s Southeast.
Checks in 2024
•Donald Trump
Keyword searches have shown that the FactWatch FactChecked claims made by Donald Trump, the current US president-elect.
This may be as result of the United States general elections held in November.
It’s also important to note that FactWatch ran checks on the claims of social media users using AI-generated photos and videos as well as attributing speech to Trump, which are Misleading or FALSE.
Some of these checks on Donald Trump were:
1 Claim
A written negative and abusive speech attributed to the ex-president of the United States, Donald Trump, surfaced on many WhatsApp groups recently.
Verdict
This is FALSE.
No credible news organization anywhere reported this speech at any time.
FactWatch discovered that this speech was posted first in 2017 and 2018 mainly by Nigerian blogs.
Link to read here
2 Claim
A campaign transcript attributed to the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has been shared many times on WhatsApp groups.
Verdict
This campaign speech by speech in circulation is False. Findings showed this first appeared on PejoWeb in 2020.
Link to read here
3 Claim
An X user posted video where the ex US president, Donald Trump called Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, bullshit artist” and claimed it happened recently.
Verdict
This is claim is MISLEADING.
Simple findings indicated that it was a video of Trump’s speech in Alaska in 2022.
Link to read here
4 MISLEADING: Trump shares dubious image showing Taylor Swift support
Trump shared screenshots of posts with manipulated images –- including some that an expert said appeared to be AI-generated -– suggesting that the pop star and her fans, popularly known as Swifties, support his campaign.
Link to read here
5 Trump shares fake image of Harris speaking to communist event
Trump shared a fake photo of Vice President Harris speaking at a communist event in Chicago ahead of the start of the Democratic National Convention.
Trump posted the image on Truth Social late Saturday and again on X on Sunday, adding on to accusations he has made about her recently, calling her a communist and referring to her as “Comrade Kamala.”
Link to read here
6 Claim
The video of a man who slapped former US President, Donald Trump from behind at a rally has been circulating on social media platforms.
Verdict
Findings by FactWatch indicated that someone tried to rush to the stage as Trump was delivering a speech in which he blasted protesters.
The incident occurred at a 2016 rally in Ohio. However, the original clip shows that Trump wasn’t slapped.
Link to read here
7 At debate, Trump shares falsehoods about pet-eating, infanticide
Donald Trump made numerous false assertions or extreme statements during a debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, several times prompting a correction from the moderators.
Link to read here
8 Trump spreads false claims on federal hurricane response
False claims that federal emergency disaster money was given to migrants in the U.S. illegally have spread quickly in recent days, boosted by Donald Trump and some of his most high-profile supporters.
Link to read here
9 Video of Trump inviting Nigeria’s ex-minister, Engr. Mustafa to join in planning his budget is AI-generated
Link to read here
10 An X user, @bssmanchi21 shared and claimed Trump ordered Kanu’s release.
Verdict
This claim that Trump ordered Kanu’s release is MISLEADING. The original video, which was about his election victory, was altered by miscreants
Link to read here
Simon Ekpa
FactWatch countered misinformation and disinformation posted by the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa on his X account this 2024.
Mr Ekpa who operates from Finland before his arrest and detention in November, has claimed to be the leader of the Biafra Government In Exile (BRIGE, an autopilot faction of the IPOB.
Mr Ekpa has been linked to many deadly attacks in Nigeria’s Southeast.
On the part of misinformation, Mr Ekpa and his followers deliberately shared many claims that were false or misleading.
The post by Ekpa and his followers:
1 Claim
A self-acclaimed Biafra leader, Simon Ekpa, and another X user have shared a video of horrific ritual killings in Nigeria’s Southwest and claimed it happened recently.
Verdict
A simple keyword Google search showed that this incident happened in 2014. Credible news reports also confirmed it.
Link to read here
2. Claim
A Biafra secessionist, Simon Ekpa, and other X users have claimed that an airstrike by Israeli forces in Beirut (Lebanon) targeted French oil facilities.
Verdict
This claim is UNPROVEN. Credible international news organizations posted this same video and the areas targeted but didn’t confirm that any French oil facility in Beirut, was bombed by the Israeli military.
Link to read here
3 Claim
Simon Ekpa’s Disciple Recirculates 2021 Video To Show Current Insecurity In Southeast Nigeria
Verdict
Simple findings indicated that it occurred in Anambra in 2021.
Link to read here
4 Claim
@Akparawasunny, a loyal disciple to the Biafra factional leader, Simon Ekpa, has claimed that his boss was only invited by the Finnish government to know more about the Biafra agitation.
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING. Reports by Finnish local and other international credible media organizations confirmed the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafran Republic Government In Exile(BRIGE) was arrested on Thursday by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda.
Link to read here
5. Claim
Members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra posted on X, photos of slain solder and claimed it happened in the eastern part of Nigeria.
Verdict
This is Misleading. Findings showed that the incident happened in Togo on July 20 2024.
Link to read here
Politicians, influencers are not left out
Few claims by notable politicians in Nigeria like President Bola Tinubu, Dino Melaye, Charly Boy and Dele Momodu we’re also FactChecked in 2024.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter was also involved sharing inaccurate and misleading information.
These claims:
1 Claim
Tinubu claimed that in the last 13 month of his administration, the country’s revenue on debt service dropped from 97% to 68%.
Verdict
Data findings and analysis showed that in the last 13 months, Nigeria’s revenue to debt service hasn’t reduced to 68% as claimed by president Tinubu during broadcast on Sunday.
Link to read here
2 Claim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed his administration has cleared the ways and means of debt of over N30trn.
Verdict
This claim by Nigeria’s leader is FALSE. Ways and Means debt was added in the official debt stock of Nigeria as bonds.
Link to read here
3 Claim
A popular Nigerian songwriter and social media influencer, Charly Boy has claimed that the military-ruled Mali is debt-free.
Verdict
This claim is FALSE.
Findings confirmed that as of September 30, 2024, Mali’s outstanding purchases and loans (SDR) were $344.68 million. The country’s national debt is projected to increase by $4.4 billion between 2024 and 2029, reaching a peak of $16.36 billion in 2029.
Link to read here
4 Claim
A popular Nigerian, Musician, Charley Boy posted the video on his X account and wrote, “Kenyan parliamentarians, after running for their lives ended up eating in the bush
Verdict
Claim that viral video of persons eating in the bush are Kenya lawmakers is Misleading.
Findings showed that it was a funeral in Tanzania.
Link to read here
5 Claim
A former Nigerian Senator, Dino Melaye posted a video on Facebook and claimed Tobi Amusan set new world record at 2024 Paris Olympics.
Verdict
This is Misleading.
Findings showed that it was an old video in July 2022 when the 25-year-old athlete won the 100 metres hurdles gold at the World Athletics Championships.
Link to read here
6 Claim
Mr Obi claimed that Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world, among the most insecure people on earth, among the hungriest, have poor education quality and the highest number of out-of-school children, high infant mortality,
Read the verdict on these claims here
7 Claim
Dele Momodu claims Dorothy Jean Tillman is the youngest person to obtain PhD doctorate in the world.
Verdict
This claim is FALSE. Findings show that Karl Witte received his doctorate from the University of Giessen, Germany, on 10 April 1814 at the age of 13 years 283 days.
Link to read here
Other Top checks in 2024
1 Claim
An X user claimed the Nigerian government only donated RICE to the Maiduguri flood victims.
Verdict
This claim is FALSE.
Credible media organizations in Nigeria reported that the Nigerian government donated ₦3bn on September 11, 2024.
Link to read here
2 Claim
A Facebook page, Naija, has claimed that an individual under the age of 18 cannot be admitted into any UK varsity.
Verdict
The claim by the Facebook page, Naija, that individual under the age of 18 cannot admitted in any UK University is FALSE.
Link to read here
3 Claim
A popular broadcast journalist, Oseni Rufai shared on X, a public notice from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) , which stated the rights of every electricity consumer to curb arbitrariness by the DisCos and aid consumers in fighting for their rights.
Verdict
This public notice posted by Oseni Rufai is MISLEADING, as thorough finding indicated that it’s not a recent public notice.
Link to read here
4 Claim
A page on X.com has claimed that a US court issued a new arrest warrant for Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema over multimillion-dollar
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING.
On October 12, the United States government piled more charges on the earlier $20 million bank fraud case against Mr Onyema. Apart from the two arrest warrants issued against Mr Onyema in 2019, there’s no new warrant by any US court recently.
Link to read here
It’s important to note that many online tribal bigots engaged in a war using old and outdated to ridicule each other’s tribe.
The persons share video or images of heinous contents committed by the other tribe to malign themselves on X.
You can read more thedw checks here
