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Claim: A Facebook user named “Aguleri Culture & Music, Add Your Passion” posted a video on August 1, 2024, alleging that a part of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s house in Daura, Katsina State, was set ablaze.
Verdict: While there are reports that protesters surrounded Buhari’s house in Daura, Katsina State, there is no concrete evidence that the house was burnt.
Full Text
Nigerians took to the streets across the country under the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement, protesting against widespread corruption, poor governance, and the rising cost of living, which has left millions struggling to afford necessities.
The protests, which began on August 1 and continued until August 10, saw demonstrators gather in various regions, including Kano, Katsina, and Yobe. In some of these areas, authorities imposed curfews in response to the violence that erupted, including the burning of vehicles and the destruction of property.
Amid the unrest, numerous claims circulated on social media, including a video posted by the Facebook user Aguleri Culture & Music, Add Your Passion. The video was shared with a caption which claimed that a part of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s house in Daura, Katsina State, was burnt during the protests. The caption reads: “A part of Buhari’s house in Daura is on fire, organised protest, set Buhari legacy on fire ”
The video showed thick flames rising into the air while people gathered to watch as the fire intensified. Despite gaining attention, the video lacked comments and had around 100 views at the time of this report.
Preliminary checks by DUBAWA revealed that the same video was later posted on X by user Nkirukamma (@SabinaNkiru) on August 10, 2024. The caption accompanying the post read: “UNCONFIRMED! Buhari’s house is said to have been set ablaze in Daura, Katsina State. If this is true, then the North is no longer as we know it.” The post attracted over 121,000 views, 124 reposts, and 16 replies.
Some social media users sceptically questioned the claim. For instance, Anioma Ronu (@ChiduObodo) commented, “The other time it was Tinubu’s house, now it’s Buhari’s house. Why are you so madly in love with fake news like this?” Another user, Okechukwu Anozie (@elgedox), questioned the authenticity of the claim, asking, “Pls, is this true?”
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on several keyframes from the video and confirmed that the footage was indeed taken in Katsina State during the protest. The video went viral on the day of the protest.
However, further investigation revealed that while several reputable media organisations, including Punch Newspapers and Channels TV, reported that protesters had invaded Buhari’s house in Daura, no reports indicated that any part of the house was set ablaze.
According to Channels TV, the protesters barricaded major roads leading to Mai’adua-Kwangwalam and Daura, including the T-junction leading to Buhari’s residence. The station also noted that the protesting youths eventually submitted a grievance letter to one of the former president’s aides for delivery to Buhari.
Additionally, the report revealed a heavy security presence around the former president’s house during the protest, and the Katsina State Government imposed a curfew across all 34 Local Government Areas to maintain law and order.
Conclusion
Despite the widespread discussions online, no credible sources or authorities have confirmed the claim that Buhari’s house was set on fire. While it is true that protesters gathered near the residence, reports of the home being burnt remain unverified.
The researcher produced this article per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Crest 91.1FM, Ibadan, and News Verifier Africa, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
