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Claim: A Facebook user shared a video suggesting it shows security operatives terrorising residents in the South East.
Verdict: Misleading. Evidence shows the incident happened in Ado-Ekiti, not the South East. The Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed it occurred in the state but denied involvement, adding that the matter is under investigation.
Full Text
Since the #EndSARS protests, there has been a stronger push to hold security agencies accountable and to halt the propagation of injustice. The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) is one example of a newsroom that brings such issues to light by exposing cases of extortion and wrongful detention, helping to restore victims’ rights and property, and seeking accountability, among other things.
In close relation to this topic, a Facebook user, @UcheNworah, shared a video, claiming that armed and drugged security operatives in the Southeast invade homes without proper protocol, carrying out acts of aggression.
The accompanying caption that followed the footage read: “We have created a culture of violent, opportunistic behaviour in the Southeast under the guise of combating insecurity. Any armed, hooded, and untrained individual, accompanied by his mates who are probably drugged out, can invade your home and carry out various acts of aggression, as evidenced in this undated video. There are no proper protocols in place, and human rights are not respected. When will this terror end? Imagine if children were livingthere were children living in the house.”
The 32-second video shows three armed men dressed in black, with one specifically inserting a shovel through the opened part of an iron-bar window. A yellowish inscription on the back of their outfit says “ Special Forces.”
When we came across the post on Aug. 19, 2025, it had 2,000 views, 434 likes, 243 comments, and 403 shares.
We reviewed the comments and found users with varying perspectives on the alleged incident.
@Ebuka Ifeanyi, for instance, said: “Any security force in Nigeria is a threat to its citizens; if not so, why recruit repentant Boko Haram into the armies, DSS, EFCC, and police, may Nigeria never happen (sic) to any of us.”
@Attamarah replied: “If everyone is using guns for security reasons, this won’t be happening.”
@Bukasonromeo also added: “Impunity sponsored by the government.”
Interestingly, other users in the comment section did not believe the Facebook user’s words. They insinuated that the incident had nothing to do with the Southeast, as claimed.
Considering the conflicting narratives and the seriousness of the allegations pointing fingers at security operatives, DUBAWA deemed it necessary to investigate and establish facts.
Verification
DUBAWA analysed keyframes from the viral video using Google Lens and conducted a reverse image search. Both methods traced the footage to an X user, @MichealFrosh32, who shared it on July 25, 2025. In his post, he alleged that operatives under the codename “Operation Flush” broke into an apartment in the Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti, describing it as an attempted daylight robbery.
The same video, later reshared on Facebook by @UcheNworah, had already generated reactions on X, which drew the attention of police authorities who announced an investigation.
Hours after the post, the Ekiti State Police Command acknowledged that the incident occurred within the state, but denied involvement. Its spokesperson, SP Abutu Sunday, said the police do not operate a unit called Operation Flush and noted that Commissioner Joseph Eribo had ordered a discreet investigation. The Command urged anyone with helpful information, including victims, to assist the inquiry while reiterating its commitment to protecting lives and property.
DUBAWA searched and found no report or substantial evidence to support the claim presented by the Facebook user.
Conclusion
While it is no news that the Southeast faces security challenges, the video shared by the Facebook user has nothing to do with the region. It has been confirmed to be an incident from Ekiti State. Therefore, the claim is misleading.
