By Pascal Ibe
Claim
A strong supporter of the ruling party in Nigeria and a social media influencer, Ayekooto shared images of arms paraded and claimed it was raid on the camp of Obidents in Imo
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING. Findings indicated that this was a parade of arms and ammunition owned by suspected IPOB/ESN members, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in Imo State on 19th July 2025 by the Imo State Police Command.
Full Text
Bigotry and politics in Nigeria are deeply intertwined, forming a complex and often destructive dynamic that undermines national unity, good governance, and socio-economic development.
Nigeria is a diverse nation with over 250 ethnic groups and two dominant religions (Christianity and Islam). While diversity can be a source of strength, it has often been manipulated by political elites for personal gain and power retention, leading to the institutionalization of bigotry.
A strong member of the ruling party in Nigeria, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and a social media influencer, Ayekooto, has shared images of arms paraded and claimed it was raid on the camp of Obidents in Imo State.
Ayekooto posted four pictures of the parade of arms and ammunition and claimed, “Police busts ObiDents Camp in Imo, recovers arms”
The post had already generated 28k views and more than 100 reposts, as many people on the X platform queried whether this was true.
The “Obidient Movement” is a socio-political phenomenon in Nigeria that emerged primarily in support of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. It represents a significant departure from traditional Nigerian political mobilization and has had a profound impact on the country’s political landscape.
The Obidient Movement gained rapid traction following Peter Obi’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party in May 2022.
Verification
When FACTWATCH Nigeria subjected these photos to Google Lens Search, we found out this was a parade of arms and ammunition owned by suspected IPOB/ESN members, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in Imo State on 19th July 2025 by the Imo State Police Command.
The Imo police command official X account, which published the statement and these photos on 19th July 2025, announced that the Imo State Police Command had made a breakthrough in its campaign against violent crime and criminal syndicates, including the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
The operations, spearheaded by CP Aboki Danjuma, led to the arrest of thousands of suspects, the recovery of a substantial arsenal, and the rescue of over 100 victims.
See credible news reports that corroborate this evidence here.
Conclusion
These images shared by Ayekooto on the X platform were a parade of arms and ammunition owned by criminal suspects by the Imo State Police Command and have nothing to do with the Obidients movement.
