African News
Does picture show Yahaya Bello jumping gate to escape EFCC?
A viral picture shared across social media and blogs claims to show former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, jumping the fence to evade EFCC’s arrest.
The claim is FALSE!
Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello has been in the news lately following attempts by the EFCC to arrest him due to allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds amounting to Eighty-four Billion, Sixty-two Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo (N84, 062,406,089.88).
Bello has been reported to have failed to honour a summons or even allowed officials of the anti-graft agency to arrest him for questioning on petitions concerning the mismanagement of N84bn and N300bn, while he served as Governor of the confluence state from 2016 to 2024.
However, a trending photo has been circulating on several blogs and social media allegedly showing the former governor attempting to scale a fence to meet current Kogi State Governor Ododo’s security entourage, seeking their assistance in avoiding apprehension by the EFCC.
EFCC laid siege at Bello’s residence, Benghazi Street in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja on Wednesday, April 17 in an attempt to arrest him.
The trending photo was claimed to have been from his residence. It was reported that the former Governor was assisted in evading arrest by Governor Ododo, who visited his residence hours after thesiege began.
A check on the photo using Google Reverse Image search showed that an earlier copy of such a photo with a different face and background existed online as far back as 2014.
Further findings revealed that the person in the original image is Hon. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche, who represented the Bida/Gbako/KatchaFederal constituency of Niger State in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015 and served as the Vice-Chairman of the Culture & Tourism Committee.
Conclusion
The claim that Yahaya Bello evaded EFCC arrest by climbing a fence is FALSE. There was no credible report of him jumping the fence of his Abuja residence as his means to evade arrest by the EFCC. The picture that is circulated has been altered, the original has Hon. Cheche’s head and this was replaced with Yahya Bello’s head.
African News
Did U.S. Troops Arrive in Nigeria in February 2026? Here’s the Truth Behind the Viral Video
A viral video circulating across social media has sparked widespread concern, claiming that United States military forces arrived in Nigeria on February 15, 2026, suggesting a possible foreign intervention.
Given the sensitivity of national security and public anxiety surrounding such claims, we conducted a detailed verification to separate fact from speculation.
🔍 WHAT WE INVESTIGATED
To verify the claim, we examined:
- The viral video and its context
- Reports from reputable international media
- Official statements from Nigerian defence authorities
- Information from U.S. government and military sources
✅ WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
✔️ U.S. Military Personnel Did Arrive in Nigeria
Credible reports confirm that approximately 100 U.S. troops arrived in Nigeria around mid-February 2026.
This deployment is part of an ongoing security cooperation mission between Nigeria and the United States.
🎯 Purpose of the Mission
The presence of U.S. personnel is focused on supporting Nigeria’s fight against insurgent groups, including:
- Boko Haram
- Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)
Their activities include:
- Training Nigerian military personnel
- Sharing intelligence
- Providing technical and operational support
- Strengthening counter-terrorism capacity
❌ WHAT IS MISLEADING OR FALSE
🚫 No Evidence of Independent Combat Operations
Despite claims online, there is no verified evidence that U.S. troops are conducting independent combat missions in Nigeria.
🚫 No Threat to Nigeria’s Sovereignty
Nigerian authorities have clarified that the deployment:
- Is part of an existing bilateral agreement
- Does not override Nigeria’s control over its military operations
- Falls within standard international security cooperation
🧠 CONTEXT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nigeria has faced ongoing security challenges in parts of the North, with insurgent groups carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces.
As a result, international partnerships—including with the United States—have long played a role in:
- Military training
- Intelligence collaboration
- Logistical support
This latest deployment aligns with those ongoing efforts.
📊 SUMMARY
| Claim | Verdict |
|---|---|
| U.S. troops arrived in Nigeria | ✅ True |
| Troops are conducting combat operations | ❌ Not supported |
| Nigeria’s sovereignty is compromised | ❌ False |
🏁 FINAL VERDICT
Mostly True — But Misleading Without Context
While U.S. military personnel did arrive in Nigeria in February 2026, their role is strictly advisory and support-based, not a full-scale combat deployment as suggested by viral claims.
⚠️ WHY THIS MATTERS
Misinformation around military activity can quickly escalate fear and confusion.
Understanding the difference between:
- Military cooperation
- and military intervention
…is critical for informed public discourse.
🔔 STAY INFORMED
Follow our Fake News Debunker Series for verified, fact-checked updates on trending stories.
African News
✴️ Ep.116– Does Viral Video Show a Market Between Congo and Gabon Where Parents Sell Their Children?
A viral video claims to show a “child market” between Congo and Gabon where parents allegedly sell their children. But is this true?
In this episode of WABMA Fake News Debunker (Ep. 116), we carefully examine the footage, verify available evidence, and separate fact from fiction.
🔍 What we investigated:
- The viral video and its visual details
- Reports from credible international media
- Data from global child-protection organizations
- Any evidence of a “child market” in the Congo–Gabon region
❌ Our Verdict: FALSE
There is no verified evidence that such a market exists. The viral video does not prove child trafficking and has been shared without proper context.
⚠️ Why this matters:
Misinformation like this spreads fear, reinforces harmful stereotypes, and distracts from real child protection issues.
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📰 Ep.117–WABMA Fake News Debunker;
Did U.S. Troops Arrive in Nigeria in February 2026? Here’s the Truth Behind the Viral Video
