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Several misinformed claims went viral on social media during the first week of August, misleading the public.
DUBAWA’s investigations uncovered the myth about crows heralding witchcraft, a N185,000 Allowance for every Nigerian, Nigeria’s cancer rating and the Federal government banning common packaged foods.
Below are some of the trending issues we verified in the last week.
- Crows and spiritual undertone
Many people in Nigeria believe that crows’ frequent visits carry spiritual or supernatural meanings, often linking them to witchcraft or bad omens.
However, this widespread misconception is rooted in local superstitions and media portrayals rather than science. Pied crows and other crow species are highly intelligent birds attracted to human environments for food, water, and shelter. Their complex social behaviour, strong memory, and ecological roles are often misunderstood and misinterpreted as mystical.
This explainer sheds light on why crows behave the way they do, the ecological benefits they provide, and how cultural myths have led to harmful attitudes toward these remarkable birds.
Read more here.
- Garlic, ginger, dandelion, corn silk, siam weed, cure for different health conditions
A social media user claimed that herbs like garlic, ginger, dandelion, corn silk, and Siam weed can cure or drastically reduce the risk of serious diseases such as cancer, kidney problems, and diabetes.
However, scientific evidence shows that these claims are exaggerated or unsupported, often based on limited studies mainly involving animals, not humans.
Experts emphasise that these plants have some health benefits but are not proven cures and should not replace professional medical care. Find more details on this fact check here.
- Nigeria now global cancer leader
A viral WhatsApp voice note falsely claimed that Nigeria is now the global leader in cancer cases and that the government had banned various common packaged foods like noodles and seasoning cubes due to their alleged carcinogenic effects.
It also alleged that the sealing of the Tummy Tummy noodle factory in Anambra State linked noodles and spices to immune damage, causing drug-resistant malaria.
However, credible data and official sources like NAFDAC refuted these claims. Read the full fact check here.
- Federal Government approve National Family Support Allowance for Nigerians
The claim that the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved N185,000 for every Nigerian under a “National Family Support Allowance” for three months is false.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has not announced or launched any scheme by this name, and no credible government or news sources support the claim.
DUBAWA’s findings showed that the linked website requires sharing the message in multiple WhatsApp groups before access, a common phishing tactic.
