Claim: A Facebook user, @Jackson Igbinoghene, shared a video suggesting that a crowd of people chanting while carrying guns is bandits preparing to launch an attack in Nigeria.
Verdict: False. The incident did not happen in Nigeria. Our findings reveal that it occurred in Ethiopia and involved members of the Oromo Liberation Front.
Full Text
One of Nigeria’s most significant problems is the ongoing threat from bandit attacks. With many people living in fear and uncertainty about their safety, citizens look to the government for protection.
In this tense atmosphere, some social media users have used the situation to spread stories that increase worry and confusion.
For example, DUBAWA found a post made by Facebook user @Jackson Igbinoghene, who shared a video claiming that the people shown are bandits preparing to launch a fresh attack.
The 33-second video showed a crowd of men who ran in circles and chanted in an unfamiliar language while holding guns.
Attached to the video was a written inscription that read, “Bandits warming up, Ijaw militants are set, Igbo youths are ready, Edo youths are divided over MOWA.”
As of Dec. 15, 2025, the post had 200,000 views, 2,400 likes, 545 comments, and over 1,000 shares.
DUBAWA reviewed the comments to understand people’s perspectives on the claim.
@Dennis Ibeneto said, “They say these bandits are foreigners, so what language is this?”
@ Jilo Asset said, “This is the right moment for an air strike; no one will escape. Americans know it better.”
@ Walentino Baba added, “The Nigerian Air Force is not active or what? A single airstrike could have done it instantly.”
@Alex Ogunmola shared his perspective, “I don’t know why the government can’t vocally say it out that these people are not Nigerians. They are from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.”
The same claim was shared by other Facebook users here, here, here, here, and here.
The nature of the claim and the language spoken by the people in the video made it suspicious. This prompted DUBAWA to verify.
Verification
DUBAWA began by taking a screenshot of the video and running a Google Lens search. This led to a post by Senator Ned Nwoko on his verified Instagram account, where he shared the same video with the caption: “Law-abiding citizens must be legally armed to defend themselves.”
Seeing this post provided no clear context for the video, DUBAWA reviewed the comments beneath it. One user stated that the video had no connection to Nigeria and claimed it showed members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in Ethiopia.
Based on this lead, DUBAWA focused its search on the named group to determine whether there was evidence directly linking the video to OLF.
Our search led to a clearer video showing the same group chanting in a similar manner. In this version, the individuals could be seen waving the Ethiopian flag.
The accompanying caption read: “Those are the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), from the people of Abiy Ahmed, Oromuma. However, the game is over. The Junta Abyot is closing in on a dead end.”
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) is an Ethiopian political movement established in the 1970s to advocate for self-determination for the Oromo people, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group.
Human Rights Watch reports that, over time, the group developed armed factions that have engaged in violent confrontations with Ethiopian security forces, particularly in Oromia Regional State.
The BBC has also documented instances in which armed groups identified as OLF or OLF-linked appear in videos that show chanting fighters and Ethiopian national symbols.
DUBAWA reached out to Rehobot Ayalew, a fact-checker from Ethiopia, to confirm whether the video was related to the region. She told DUBAWA that the people in the video are speaking an Ethiopian language.
“They are definitely speaking Afaan Oromo, one of the major languages spoken widely in Ethiopia, especially in the Oromia region. I cannot be specific as to what exactly they are saying since I don’t speak the language,” she explained.
Rehobot told DUBAWA that the attire worn by the people, along with the red and green colours on their outfits, correspond to the flag colours of the Oromo Liberation Front. She also noted their physical appearance, stating that it is consistent with how members of the group usually look.
A screenshot from the video Vs a reference image of the OLF flag sourced from AllAfrica.com.
Conclusion
DUBAWA traced the video to Ethiopia and confirmed that it shows members of the Oromo Liberation Front, not Nigerian bandits. Therefore, the claim is false.