Photo source: DUBAWA
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The penultimate week of July 2026 saw misleading and false claims about governance, flooding, and security issues.
These include claims about Peter Obi’s fake picture and claims about Niger State Governor Muhammad Bago’s actions and decisions.
Below are some of the claims DUBAWA verified in the last week.
1. Governor Bago ordered the removal of Fulani district heads across Niger State
A viral Facebook video falsely claimed that the Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, ordered the removal of all Fulani district heads across the state following allegations of kidnapping against the Fulani group.
However, DUBAWA’s fact-check revealed that the governor made no such announcement during his speech at the palace of the Emir of Kontagora. Instead, Governor Bago was addressing insecurity and land disputes, warning traditional title holders against land grabbing and urging Fulani leaders to caution their children against criminal activities to stop the unrest.
Read more about the claim here.
2. Helicopter airlifts wounded fighters from Kaboji Primary School, Niger
A viral video claimed that a helicopter airlifted wounded terrorists from Kaboji Primary School in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
While residents and eyewitnesses confirmed that an incident involving a Nigerian Police Force helicopter evacuating injured individuals occurred on July 2, 2026, the aircraft actually landed at an old cemetery in the village rather than at the local primary school. Find the full details of this story on the DUBAWA website.
3. Nigerians protest against Chidimma Adetshina to return crown after relocating to South Africa.
A viral video circulating on social media claimed that Nigerians are marching in the streets to protest against former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, demanding she return her crown after relocating to South Africa.
We traced the video to old protest footage from 2023. The video shows youth in Abeokuta demanding justice for the late Nigerian singer, Mohbad. We found no credible news reports of ongoing public demonstrations regarding Adetshina’s recent deportation battles or her decision to stay in South Africa.
4. Governor Bago recruits 10,000 graduates into civil service
Governor Bago appeared again in a Facebook post claiming he employed nearly 10,000 graduates into the state civil service.
Using official government records, specifically the “Diary of Activities New Niger,” DUBAWA revealed that the administration has actually employed over 5,000 graduates to “inject fresh ideas and skills into the civil service.”
The claim is therefore misleading. Read more here.
5. Peter Obi faked ECFR roundtable discussion attendance
A social media post claimed that Peter Obi, a presidential aspirant, faked images of his attendance at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) roundtable discussion.
DUBAWA’s analysis confirmed that Obi attended the event at the ECFR Berlin office, as corroborated by official posts from the organisation’s verified handles.
However, forensic analysis using multiple AI detection tools revealed that the images Obi shared on his official page were digitally altered and enhanced using AI tools to improve their quality, leading to the false accusations of outright fabrication.
6. Viral video shows Lagos’ recent flood
A viral video shared on the X platform allegedly showed severe flooding in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
While parts of Lagos did experience heavy rainfall that displaced residents and submerged vehicles, findings revealed that the specific video footage circulating online actually captures a flooded expressway in Banani, a neighbourhood located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, following intense local downpours.
