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Claim: A Facebook user shared a video claiming that a dragon-like creature was seen swimming in Delta State, Nigeria.
Verdict: Misleading. While the video is real, the creature is not a dragon and was not found in Delta State. DUBAWA’s fact check confirms it is a black water monitor lizard, a reptile native to Southeast Asia, not Nigeria.
Full Text
Facebook is among the most widely used platforms globally. As of April 2024, it had approximately 3.065 billion monthly active users worldwide. In Africa, Nigeria leads with 49.99 million users, accounting for 21.3% of its population. Unlike platforms such as TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, which are predominantly used by younger audiences, Facebook has many older users who have trusted it over time for information consumption.
Influencers have enhanced the platform’s engagement by sharing written and visual content in various forms, including entertainment, news, social life topics, and more, depending on their niche. However, some influencers have exploited this avenue to disseminate false narratives, which can easily mislead their audience.
On March 2, 2025, Facebook user @Brodamike1 shared a short clip of a reptile-like animal with a tail and fins swimming around in a pool of water.
A voice in the background echoed with intensity: “My people, things are happening! See the dragon we saw today in Delta State. Please, if you know the name of this dragon, tell us in the comment section.”
The caption accompanying the video reinforced this claim, emphasising the same narrative.
As of March 12, 2025, the post had gained significant traction, amassing 85,900 views, 1,272 likes, 219 comments, and 46 shares.
While many commenters dismissed the claim, others criticised the user for sharing misleading content.
Although scepticism was evident, DUBAWA decided to investigate further, seeing the video appeared realistic and its widespread on social media.
Verification
DUBAWA extracted key frames from the video and conducted a Google Reverse Image Search. The results led to multiple instances of the same clip shared by different users on YouTube and Facebook, some of whom identified the animal. See samples here, here, here, here, and here.
Further research confirmed that the creature is a black water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator komaini), a subspecies of the Asian water monitor.
As a subspecies, the black water monitor lizard is known for its sleek, dark appearance and impressive size. It is primarily found in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand and nearby regions, thriving in wetlands such as swamps, rivers, lakes, and mangrove forests. Highly adaptable, it is sometimes seen near human settlements, scavenging for food.
An excellent swimmer, this lizard uses its long, muscular tail to propel itself through the water in a smooth, undulating motion. It can remain submerged for several minutes, making it a sly predator. With sharp claws and strong jaws, it preys on fish, amphibians, birds, small mammals, and even carrion.
In appearance, the black water monitor resembles other large monitor lizards, such as the Nile monitor and Komodo dragon, but it is more streamlined and built for aquatic life. Its forked tongue and keen sense of smell help it detect prey from a distance, much like a snake.
Although the lizard resembles mythical depictions of dragons, it is not a dragon and is not connected to Delta State or Nigeria.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s findings confirm that the video does not show a dragon and was not filmed in Delta State, Nigeria. The creature is a black water monitor lizard native to Southeast Asia. While such viral claims may seem harmless, they contribute to the spread of misinformation, misleading the public and reinforcing sensational narratives without a factual basis.
