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Our top investigations in 2024

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In 2024, DUBAWA, West Africa’s foremost fact-checking organisation, has lived up to expectations despite the surge in dis/misinformation on various issues.

Within the calendar year, we embarked on several special reports beyond social media claims, verifying misinformation and disinformation surrounding political narratives and social issues while promoting accountability among public figures and media outlets in the country.

This article examines DUBAWA’s major investigations and the themes identified during the calendar year.

  1. Russian affiliates use Telegram and TikTok to spread disinformation and propaganda during the #EndBadGovernance protest

One of our most-read investigations in 2024 unveiled pro-Russia influence during the #EndBadGovernance protest in 2024, where many Nigerians, including 32 underaged and 87 others, were arrested for flying the Russian flag while the protest was intense in some northern states. 

After the protest, which was a nationwide outcry against the impact of some economic policies introduced during the start of Mr Tinubu’s administration, DUBAWA’s investigation revealed that an organisation, the Africa Initiative, used TikTok and Telegram to propagate their ulterior motive. They found some willing hands among some ignorant, abetting northerners. As seen in a United States Department of State report, the chief editor was Artem Sergeyevich Kureyev.

Fortunately, the children arrested during the protest were released on Nov. 5, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. 

  1. A website promotes separatist, Russian disinformation during Nigeria’s 2023 general election

Before the 2023 general election, where Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) emerged as Nigeria’s next president, several reports and investigations detected a notorious website promoting trends of pro-Russian disinformation and military junta support, which contributed to political instability during the presidential election and undermining democratic governance in the Sahel region. 

This activity came amidst a period of failed coups in Chad, Guinea, and Gabon, while neighbouring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are yet to transition to democratically elected governments after witnessing successful coups within three years. Investigations into the worrying trend fingered Russia as the catalyst behind the crises due to its strategic interest in expanding its influence within Africa, particularly among countries with historical ties to more democratic superpowers.

The IgboTimes Magazine website mainstreamed pro-Biafra secession, coup d’etat, and political instability advocacy. 

Using open-source intelligence, DUBAWA discovered that one Ofoegbu Ejike owned the platform.

Our top investigations in 2024

Ofoegbu Ejike, owner of IgboTimes Magazine. Source: Silas Jonathan/DUBAWA

As the investigation revealed, Mr Ofoegbu infringed the law by inciting public disorder through his content about pro-Russia and political instability advocacy.

  1. Coordinated disinformation campaign calls for a military takeover in Nigeria

We also investigated other social media users sowing discord through coordinated disinformation campaigns, persuading Nigerian citizens to embrace military intervention and governance to resolve their grievances. 

During the #EndBadGovernance protests, we observed that external influences through social media and propaganda were pushing the narratives.

DUBAWA’s investigation unveiled an X account named Sissoko Sora Demba (@DelphineSankara) as a significant player in this disinformation landscape. The account disseminates misleading narratives about Nigeria while promoting pro-Russian sentiments. 

The account gained a substantial following and spread false claims regarding security incidents and government inefficacy. This activity is part of a broader network of accounts that push anti-Western narratives and advocate for military governance and Russia’s intervention in Africa. 

Experts warn that these coordinated efforts will undermine Nigeria’s regional influence by fuelling internal crises, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and counter-narratives to protect the nation’s democratic integrity and sovereignty.

  1. Kingibe’s first anniversary as senator riddled with misleading plaudits

Ireti Kingibe celebrated her first year in office as the sole senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T.) with a list of about 29 constituency projects, which included road construction at Kpaduma, Karu, and Gwagwalada, streetlights at Karamajiji, Mpape, Kwali, and Jikwoyi, an ongoing 50-bed hospital at Dobi, and a Consultant Office Block construction at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, as part of her achievements.

While DUBAWA could not identify the location of all the projects mentioned, only three were confirmed true out of the nine we tracked. The rest were either misleading or false. We discovered that her predecessor, Philip Aduda, facilitated about five of the projects at their current stage, while the last project has yet to begin, though she facilitated it.

Our top investigations in 2024
  1. #Maiduguriflood: Disinformation’s influence on crisis management 

Four days before the devastating flood on Sept. 10, 2024, in Maiduguri, Borno state, the secretary to the state government, Bukar Tijani, allayed residents’ fears of an impending flood, claiming that the Babagana Zulum-led administration is managing the situation. Residents who relied on their government’s assurance amidst fears of an impending flood paid heavily with the loss of lives and properties, which cost millions and rendered many homeless in the state’s capital.

Our investigation revealed that the flood’s impact resulted from years of negligence and funds mismanagement, and residents were victims of misinformation that Mr Bukar pushed out before the disaster.

Four months later, residents are yet to heal, causing reliance on humanitarian aid from willing souls and an extra pointer to the impact of climate misinformation globally.

  1. Okuama massacre: Nigeria Army’s peace mission left a community in ruins

The Nigerian Army launched a “peace mission” to investigate the genocide against 17 military personnel on March 14, 2024, in Delta state by unknown attackers. However, their actions were marred significantly by information disorder that deepened the community’s crisis, resulting in extensive destruction and loss of life. 

Despite their claims of non-retaliation, our investigation revealed that numerous homes, schools, and vital community facilities were demolished during this period. 

Also, the military attempted to shift blame onto the community by suggesting that residents were complicit in the violence, which they claimed to justify their heavy-handed response that further alienated the community, as when this report was published. The incident has left a lasting impact on the Okuama community, raising serious concerns about the military’s accountability in Nigeria.

  1. Christ Embassy’s suspicious belief system raises doubts about healing claims

Christ Embassy, an international Christian ministry founded by Chris Oyakhilome, promotes a belief system that denies illness as a demonstration of faith. Members are encouraged to phrase ailments in a way that downplays their severity. 

Before DUBAWA’s undercover investigation, the founder claimed he resurrected over 50 individuals during the Healing Streams Festival of Miracles, where nine individuals on mobile beds were purportedly healed after he commanded them to rise, a spectacle that sparked widespread controversy among Nigerians. 

Conversations with church workers revealed a pattern of training that emphasised the importance of maintaining faith over acknowledging sickness. Testimonies shared during the service often intertwined personal experiences with marketing strategies for church literature, such as “Rhapsody of Realities,” further blurring the lines between genuine faith and commercial interests.

However, medical professionals expressed scepticism about the efficacy of prayer alone in treating severe health conditions, such as cancer. The church’s refusal to engage with media inquiries regarding these findings raises concerns about transparency and accountability in their healing claims.

  1. Jigawa govt’s ODF claim is false glory

Jigawa State’s failure to maintain its status as Nigeria’s first Open Defecation-Free (ODF) state, according to the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF), since October 2022, is another default in accountability. Although the government made significant investments to construct toilets with support from UNICEF, many communities still rely on open defecation due to inadequate infrastructure and the collapse of locally built latrines during the rainy season. As a result, residents report a lack of ongoing support and enforcement of sanitation laws, leading to a reversion to open defecation practices.

Despite initial campaigns and sanitation by-laws established to promote proper sanitation, the government’s efforts have yet to translate into lasting change. Many households still lack functional latrines, particularly in schools and healthcare facilities, where non-functional toilets force students and patients to defecate in the open. DUBAWA’s investigation called on the government to provide better infrastructure beyond mere chest-beating about the current status.

  1. Unregulated harmful syrup, Apetamin, promises weight gain for Nigerians

Regulatory challenges, particularly in the oversight of pharmaceuticals, plague Nigeria’s health sector. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), responsible for ensuring drugs’ safety and efficacy, has struggled to enforce regulations effectively in the country, as depicted in the unrestricted sale of Apetamin syrup, an appetite stimulant linked to severe health risks. As discovered in DUBAWA’s investigation, this syrup remains widely available in pharmacies nationwide despite being banned in several nations due to its dangerous side effects.

In our findings, DUBAWA uncovered uncensored accessibility and the absence of regulatory control across multiple Lagos state pharmacies, often without medical supervision. Social media platforms also became avenues for promoting this product, with sellers using alternative phrases to circumvent restrictions, while some variations exist without NAFDAC registration numbers. The syrup’s misuse, as revealed by experts interviewed in the investigation, can lead to severe health complications, and the need for stricter enforcement of health regulations to protect consumers from the risks associated with unregulated medications like Apetamin is needed.

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