|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: A Twitter user shared an image of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, shaking hands with the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, with a claim that the Nigerian government is backing Iran and Palestine in the ongoing Israel–Gaza conflict.
Verdict: MISLEADING. The image associated with the assertion dates back to 2015, and official communications from the Nigerian government advocate for diplomatic resolutions to the conflict rather than explicit support for any party involved.
Full Text
The Israel-Gaza conflict, a long-standing and complex geopolitical issue, has seen periods of heightened tension and violence between Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.
The conflict escalated further on Oct 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel, with hundreds of gunmen infiltrating communities near the Gaza Strip.
This assault resulted in about 1,200 casualties, with more than 250 individuals taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. In response, the Israeli military conducted air and artillery strikes, resulting in over 33,000 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Meanwhile, on April 13, 2024, an X user Sir. Engr. A.Y (@A_Y_Rafindadi) made a post on his page, alleging that the Nigerian government is extending support to Iran and Palestine amidst the ongoing Israel–Gaza conflict.
The post included an image showing Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president, shaking hands with Hassan Rouhani, a former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Accompanying the image was a caption declaring Nigeria’s allegiance to Iran and Palestine in what was termed as “World War III.”
It read:
“In this world war III, Nigeria Stand With Iran/Palestine
The giant of Africa is with the oppressed💯”
The post has gained traction, gathering over 1.3 million views, 24,000 likes, and 2,400 reposts. Reactions in the comment section clearly showed that people believed the post was true, with some urging the federal government to refrain from taking sides in the war.
Northern Pearl (@kadunasAyomide) reacted: “Which Nigeria? On behalf of Nigerians, please count us out. We just need nepa light ffs.”
Others also doubted the credibility of the post, questioning Buhari’s constitutional rights as a past president to declare support for a party in war on behalf of Nigeria. De’Otunba GCFRN1( @de_generalnoni) commented: “Tinubu is President, not Buhari. So, wherever Tinubu stands, Nigeria does!”
This claim emerged concurrently with Iran’s large-scale drone and missile attacks on Israel, reportedly in retaliation for an earlier Israeli strike that resulted in casualties near the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.
Verification
Investigations conducted by DUBAWA reveal that the claim is MISLEADING, as the image in question predates the current conflict. A Google Reverse Image Search with TinEye and Google Lens Search on the image indicates it was captured during the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit in 2015.
Furthermore, DUBAWA cross-referenced the claim and found an official statement released on Apr. 14, 2024, by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its spokesperson, Francisca K. Omayuli, urging diplomatic resolutions between Iran and Israel. The statement emphasised both parties’ need to consider peaceful conflict resolutions for global stability. A keyword search revealed publications by Channels Television, ait.live, and Arise News corroborating the Federal Government’s stance on the Iran-Israel conflict.
The official statement, titled “NIGERIA APPEALS FOR RESTRAINT FOLLOWING THE RECENT ESCALATION BETWEEN IRAN AND ISRAEL,” urged both nations to exercise restraint while diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation are underway.
Conclusion
While the claim of Nigeria’s support for Iran and Palestine in the Israel-Gaza conflict garnered significant attention, a thorough investigation by DUBAWA reveals it to be misleading. The image shared as evidence predates the current conflict, and official statements from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advocate for diplomatic resolutions rather than explicit support for any party.
The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Bridge Radio 98.7FM, Asaba, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
