Image used to illustrate fact check. Source: AFP.
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Claim: Social media users claim thousands of Nigerian Christians staged a street march in support of the United States and Israel, against Iran.
Verdict: Misleading! Some members of the Biafran secessionist group staged the rally. However, their actions do not represent CAN or the majority of Christians in Nigeria. Likewise, the number of protesters from the footage was less than 40. This disproves the “thousands of Christians” coinage.
Full Text
The ongoing war between Iran, Israel, and the United States (US) has sent ripple effects across the world. In the last few days, Nigerians have also found a way to register their voice on the issue.
First, it began with the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) members staging protests against the joint attack on Iran. Following that event, a claim (archived here) emerged on X that “thousands of Nigerian Christians” were seen on the street, marching in support of Israel and the US.
To corroborate the claim, the user attached a photo collage of people waving the flags of these countries and an image of US President Donald Trump.
“They have warned that if Iran doesn’t declare an Unconditional Surrender in less than 24 hours, Nigeria will have to step in and finish Iran completely with no mercy. They also warned Nigerian Muslims who are protesting in support of Iran to stop or face grãve consequences,” he wrote.
While the post received low engagement on X, it attracted 2,800 likes and 1,200 comments on Facebook. We found similar versions on Instagram.
Users on both Facebook and X questioned the claim’s authenticity, with some asking for evidence.
For example, @STAGEMICHAEL1 wrote: “Bro this one weak pass garri wey don spend 3 days for sun. Where una dey see this your ‘thousands of Nigerian Christians marching?’ Video? Location? Date? Anything?”
Similarly, Paul Adom Nkra, a Facebook user, wrote in the comments, “You said Thousands?”
Ongoing international war talks and an existing religious tension in Nigeria, which the recent Christian-genocide controversy has significantly heightened, prompted DUBAWA to conduct this fact check.
Verification
We conducted a reverse image search, which led to a video version of the rally posted on X by Nnamdi_Kanu Akparawa. This user, with over 25,000 followers, describes himself as the Minister of Information, Media & Communications of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).
We observed that the people in the video were fewer than 40 and that they danced and waved both Israeli and American flags. They sang a song with the lyrics that sounded like “Up up Israel, down down Iran, Up up Jesus, down down satan.”
As they continued with their demonstrations, a male voice in the background explained what was happening. He said the people of Biafra are aware that Iran is a country that is supporting terrorism across the world and in Nigeria. They are therefore happy and in support of the US and Israel’s actions against the country.
Another X account linked to the Biafran group reposted the same footage with confirmations.
In the past, the pro-Biafra sects have presented their views as the opinion of the general Nigerian populace, especially before international audiences. It is, however, important to note that the group officially representing Christians in Nigeria is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). And while the Biafrans are mostly Christians, it is misleading to accept the views of these demonstrators as representing CAN or the majority of Christians in Nigeria.
Conclusion
We found that the rally was staged by members of the Biafran secessionist group, whose actions do not represent CAN or the majority of Christians in Nigeria. Likewise, the number of protesters counted from the footage was less than 40. This disproves the “thousands of Christians” coinage.
