News
Is Famous Musician Ebenezer Obey Dead?
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.
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.
🎓 Learn Media & Fact-Checking Skills with WABMA
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🌐 wabma.org
A troubling image circulating online shows American YouTube star IShowSpeed wearing a Nigerian jersey. His face appears bruised. The caption is alarming. It claims he was attacked by road gang members in Nigeria while livestreaming along Ikoyi Road, Lagos.
It suggests that visiting Nigeria was unsafe. It paints a picture of chaos.
The post originates from an X account, @iamMrMarfo1. From there, it spreads.
But what really happened?
First, let’s examine the context.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was recently in Lagos. He celebrated his 21st birthday. He surpassed 50 million YouTube subscribers. On December 29, 2025, he launched a 20 country African tour in 28 days. On January 21, he livestreamed from Balogun Market in Lagos Island. Crowds gathered. Security escorted him. The scene was intense but public.
Soon after, posts claimed he had been attacked.
The circulating images appeared to show facial injuries.
WHAT WE CHECKED
We examined the footage. According to reporting by Agence France Presse, the images were doctored. AFP traced the visuals back to specific timestamps in the original livestream. Moments at approximately 4:21:32 and 4:21:36 were manipulated to create the bruised effect.
AFP journalists who were physically present in Lagos during his visit reported that they did not witness any attack. They also heard nothing to suggest that an assault occurred. The altered images did not only appear in English. They spread in French, Arabic, Spanish, Hausa, and Zulu.
WHAT WE FOUND
It is important to note that IShowSpeed has faced disruptions during other international visits.
In Algeria, he was struck by thrown water bottles during a football match. In Norway in 2024, he experienced an incident outside a shop.
But those are separate events.
There is no credible evidence that he was attacked in Nigeria. No verified report. No confirmed injury. No authenticated footage. The viral image was manipulated.
Verdict: False.
When dramatic images circulate, especially those that inflame fear or damage reputations, verify before sharing.
Screenshots can be altered.
Livestreams can be edited.
Context matters.
This claim does not hold.
✴️ Ep.116– Does Viral Video Show a Market Between Congo and Gabon Where Parents Sell Their Children?
✴️ Ep.116–WABMA Fake News Debunker;
