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It came fast. It came loud. And it came dressed as breaking news.
“Military coup in Cameroon! Paul Biya removed from power after 41 years!”
The video, shared on TikTok by a user named Jimmoexpress37, opened with dramatic music and flashing red text:
“BREAKING: JUBILATION ACROSS CAMEROON”
“MILITARY TAKES OVER POWER”
“PAUL BIYA NO WHERE TO BE FOUND”
It claimed the coup happened around 5 a.m. The narrator spoke with urgency, describing a bloodless takeover triggered by public frustration over Biya’s long rule.
Soon after, the same video was clipped, shortened to 5 minutes, and pushed across WhatsApp groups in Nigeria, Ghana, and Francophone Africa. The mood? Celebration. Many believed a new chapter had opened in Cameroon.
But something didn’t add up.
There was no mention of the supposed coup on BBC, Al Jazeera, or Reuters—not even on Cameroon’s national broadcaster. For a coup in one of Central Africa’s most tightly controlled countries, this silence was deafening.
So fact checkers started digging.
The earliest version of the video traced back to June 8, 2025, posted by a little-known YouTube channel called Jeunesse Panafricaine, with just 2,700 subscribers. The video seemed real—until you listened carefully.
The narrator’s voice didn’t quite match the visuals. Experts pointed out it carried signs of AI manipulation—that slightly off rhythm, that synthetic clarity that’s too perfect for amateur recording.
Then came the smoking gun: President Paul Biya’s verified Facebook account was still active. Just hours after the video’s circulation, Biya posted a message urging unity:
“Let us not oppose our differences but confront our ideas… Let’s consider our ethnic or cultural differences as enriching factors.”
He was clearly alive, well, and still president!
More checks showed there was no troop movement in Yaoundé, no military declaration, no international diplomatic response—nothing you would expect if a 41-year ruler had been overthrown.
And history supports that. The last coup attempt in Cameroon was in 1984—and it failed. Biya, now in his 90s, has survived more than four decades of political storms. But there has been no successful or confirmed coup attempt since then.
So, what was the video?
Likely, it was AI-enhanced disinformation, the kind used to test reactions, spark unrest, or push particular narratives. With AI, it’s now easier than ever to create the illusion of news without ever stepping into a newsroom.
And that’s the real danger.
False stories about coups can destabilize countries, trigger panic, or even justify preemptive crackdowns. In fragile political climates, lies about power changes can be as damaging as the real thing.
Conclusion: Paul Biya was not overthrown. There was no military coup.
What there was—was a very real attempt to manipulate perception.
Across Africa and beyond, videos, reels, and tweets are shaping opinions, not always with truth.
From fake bans to fictional buildings, from manufactured coups to fabricated scandals—misinformation thrives when facts are not checked.
At WABMA Debunker, we don’t take posts at face value. We follow the facts. And we don’t just question what’s said—we question who benefits when it’s believed.
#fakenews #fakenews #debunkit #debunkit #fakenews
It was one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
An Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing over 270 people. The world mourned. Families grieved. News outlets ran 24-hour coverage. And then, about a week later, another story began to surface online.
This time, it wasn’t about tragedy. It was about deception.
A video posted by an Instagram account named @aviationspotting7 claimed that the crash’s lone survivor, a man named Vishwas Ramesh Kumar, had been arrested for faking his presence on the flight.
The voiceover was calm but accusing. It claimed that Kumar was nowhere on the passenger manifest, He had been caught on CCTV at a local shopping mall during the time of the crash, and had lied to gain compensation or media attention.
The caption was damning:
“Truth revealed: Survivor of Air India crash arrested for falsely claiming to be on board.”
The video was shared widely on Instagram and WhatsApp. Hashtags like #TruthRevealed, #AirIndiaCrash, and #FakeSurvivor added fuel.
People were outraged. They accused Kumar of exploiting the deaths of 270 people. Some demanded he be jailed. Others doubted there had been any survivor at all.
But let’s pause. Because there’s a problem with this story.
Actually, several.
First, no credible Indian news outlet reported Kumar’s arrest. That’s unusual, especially given the intense local and international coverage surrounding the crash.
Second, when journalists reached out directly to law enforcement, they got a very different account.
Jaipal Singh Rathore, Additional Commissioner of Police in Ahmedabad, was unequivocal:
“Mr. Vishwas Ramesh Kumar has not been arrested. He is not under investigation for any such claim.”
In fact, police confirmed that Kumar was onboard the doomed flight. He survived—barely—and was treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for multiple injuries.
So why the confusion?
Investigators believe Kumar’s survival was due to sheer luck—and seat location. He was seated near an emergency exit, which may have allowed him to escape during the crash’s brief but devastating window.
Following his discharge, Kumar even attended the funeral rites of his brother — one of the victims who perished in the crash. Photos showed him visibly shaken, standing beside grieving relatives.
None of this matches the image painted in the viral video.
So where did that narrative come from?
While it’s unclear who produced the false video, analysts point to a growing trend of AI-generated disinformation. With just a few clips, stock footage, and a synthesized voiceover, anyone can manufacture an alternate reality — one that looks real and spreads fast.
But the damage is also real.
Kumar, already a survivor of a traumatic event, had his name dragged through the mud. He was accused, insulted, and questioned — not for what he did, but for what someone said he did.
The verdict: The claim is FALSE. Kumar was not arrested. He survived the crash. He never lied.
What happened to him was not fraud. It was survival.
And once again, the internet proved that a lie told well can still outrun the truth — unless someone stops to check.
That’s what we do here at WABMA Debunker.
On Easter Monday evening, social media lit up with somber news: Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi is dead.
The tributes came swiftly. Condolences poured in.
But… was it true?
The rumour started on Nairaland, one of Nigeria’s most active online forums. A user identified as stabilizer posted:
“He died few mins ago… Details to be made public very soon. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Within minutes, the story spread like wildfire — across X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp groups, and Facebook pages. A beloved national icon, gone?
Except… he wasn’t.
No reputable news outlet carried the report. Not a single verified platform confirmed it. And by dawn on Tuesday, the man himself had responded — personally.
In a one-minute Instagram video posted on April 22, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey looked straight at the camera and said:
“I AM ALIVE!!!!!”
Then he did what he’s done best for over six decades — he sang.
🎶 “It is fake news… Satan, you don lose o… Na lie lie you dey talk…” 🎶
The video was clear, candid, and unmistakably real.
His personal assistant, Mr. Tope Olukole, also told TVC News that the rumour was false and that the 82-year-old icon was alive and well.
Leading dailies such as Punch confirmed the story under the headline:
“I’m Alive – Ebenezer Obey Debunks Death Rumour.”
This isn’t the first time the legendary Juju maestro has been the subject of a death hoax. As one of Nigeria’s most revered musical elders, he’s long been a target of false reports — often triggered by his visible aging or prolonged absence from public events.
Conclusion
The viral claim that Ebenezer Obey is dead is FALSE.
The man is very much alive — and still singing.
Analyzing the Phantom Coup in Cameroon?
Was the only survivor in the recent Air India crash arrested?
