Claim: An X user posted a video showing two vehicles burning, claiming that it is a recent development in the “sit at home” happening in the southeast region.
Verdict: Misleading! The video is not as recent. Results from credible media reports indicate that the video is a 2021 incident of the killing of club owner Phillip Udala by unknown gunmen in the Abatete area of Anambra State.
Full Text
Over the years, Easterners have agitated for the division of Nigeria to form their own nation, “Biafra.” This movement originally began with Odumegwu Ojukwu, a former military officer in the 1960s, and eventually led to the Nigerian Civil War.
In recent times, a group called the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was formed by Nnamdi Kanu, advocating for the establishment of Biafra, as an independent nation. This movement has led to various laws and orders in the Eastern states, one of which is the Monday sit-at-home directive that has significantly impacted the region.
In light of this, an X user, @dmightyangel, shared a video showing two vehicles engulfed by fire, claiming that the incident happened recently during a sit-at-home.
Along with the video was the caption, “An Inside Look at Anambra’s Sit-At-Home Monday.”
The post, as of Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, has garnered about 104,000 views, 668 likes, 348 reposts, 68 quotes, and 134 bookmarks.
In reaction to the post, some Facebook users called for an independent Biafran State, but others thought the video was old.
@Alpha_Yom writes, There’s (a) a lot of potential in this state. It’s sad how much destruction is happening.
Another user, @AkukariaSA suggested, “Time to withdraw the Nigerian military and let them have their Biafra in peace.”
Meanwhile, @chukwe stated, “This happened years ago.”
Noticing the significant engagement the post received and the divergent views towards it, DUBAWA decided to investigate the accuracy of the claim.
Verification
DUBAWA subjected some of the video’s screen grabs to Google Reverse Image Search. The result led us to a Facebook post dated Oct. 23, 2021, showing a similar image posted by the claimant, however, with a different context.
As inferred from the post, unknown gunmen had killed a certain Chukwunonso Phillip (also known as Chief Udala) at Abete junction alongside his escort and police.
Part of the Facebook post reads, …Chief Udala was murdered by unknown gunmen at Abatete Junction two months ago, he was burnt together with his vehicles and Police escort…”
Probing further, we came across a YouTube video report by Punch on July 16, 2021, stating that the incident happened on July 13, 2021, where Philip Udala was ambushed and killed in Abatete Anambra State alongside his entourage. A video similar to the claimant’s can be seen between 0:58 and 1:38 minute of the YouTube post.
Television Continental News (TVC) also reported a similar story on YouTube on July 14, 2021, adding that four persons were killed.
Furthermore, DUBAWA carried out a keyword search on Google, leading us to various reports by credible media outlets reporting the incident in 2021.
Daily Post on July 14, 2021, reported the incident stating that Philip Udala, Chairman of Udala Football Club in Anambra State, was murdered when his convoy was ambushed at Eke-Agu Market junction in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to the newspaper, his murderers initially hit a police facility in the area and were fleeing the scene when they ran into Udala’s convoy.
Also, Punch and TVC News reported similar incidents on July 16, 2021, as seen here and here, respectively.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s investigations reveal the video originated in 2021 when unknown gunmen killed the Chairman of Udala Football Club in Anambra State. Therefore, the claim is misleading.