Claim: Delta State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon Agbateyiniro Weyinmi, was found in possession of a sack containing guns.
Verdict: Insufficient evidence. DUBAWA did not find enough evidence to support this claim.
Full Text
A Facebook user, Fejiro Oliver, recently made a post alleging that the Delta State Commissioner for Youth Development, Agbateyiniro Weyinmi, was found in possession of a sack containing guns. He further stated that the guns had been handed over to officials at Ekpan Police Station, Delta State.
Mr Oliver also made a follow-up post on the same issue on February 22, 2024, using the headline: “Killers and Cultists as Delta State Government Appointees.” This has, as of March 19, 2024, generated over 60 likes, more than 103 comments, and about five shares.
This claim has prompted speculation that government officials secretly engage in criminal activities.
DUBAWA conducted this verification due to the sensitive nature of the claim.
Verification
DUBAWA contacted Mr Oliver to clarify his claim, but he did not respond to messages sent to him via his Facebook handle.
However, we found a statement signed by Bright Edafe, a superintendent of police and the spokesperson of the police in Delta State, refuting the claim that the commissioner was caught with a sack of firearms. Mr Edafe described the claim as entirely untrue and deceptive.
The police statement reads: “After a careful analysis of the write-up, it is obvious that the writer is being mischievous, and the Command does not wish to go into any debate with him. However, for the avoidance of doubt and for members of the public to be informed, the command wishes to state clearly that no incident like that was recorded by the command. The write-up is not only mischievous but laughable.”
DUBAWA also contacted the commissioner in question, Mr Weyinmi, who debunked the claim, noting that he has already filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) office regarding the issue.
“Check his Facebook account and see how notorious he is with lies and blackmailing. A petition on this to the IGP office has also been generated to help sustain this investigation to the very zenith of police investigation in this country. Be rest assured that this case will be followed to a logical conclusion and no stone will be left unturned until this case is concluded,” Mr Wenyimi said.
Conclusion
There is no substantive evidence to prove that the Delta State Commissioner for Youths, Agbateyiniro Wenyimi, was caught with guns.
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.
