Following the death of Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, more often known as Pele, there have been several reports about his exploits.
One such report claims that Pele visited Nigeria. This claim comes after a football match was played in his honour in Kaduna.
Former lawmaker, Senator ShehuSani of Kaduna State, who was present for the tribute match revealed that the late Brazilian footballer, played in the same stadium in the 1970s.
Sharing a picture from the match, Sani said, “Pele was in Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna in 1972. Two Kaduna Football Clubs played a match at the same venue today, as a tribute to the original greatest of all times”
The post has generated lots of discussion and some of the discussants are doubting if Pele truly came to Nigeria.
This claim is True and here are the reasons;
Checks revealed that Pele visited Nigeria on three occasions.
First was in January 1969 when Santos Football Club of Brazil arrived Nigeria in the midst of the civil war to play a friendly match.
Santos first faced the Nigerian team on January 26. Pele scored twice in this confrontation (2-2). A second match took place on February 4, in Benin City and Santos won 2-1 against the local team.
Again in 1976, Pele was caught in the General Murtala Mohammed Coup! He traveled to Lagos on a trip sponsored by Pepsi in February 1976. He played a friendly game and took part in the inauguration of football schools.
But tension remained high in the city at that time and Pele, who took refuge in the Brazilian embassy, was disguised as an airline pilot to fly out of Lagos.
In 1978, at a time Pele had retired, he returned to Nigeria on a trip sponsored by Fluminense, a household appliance brand.
Pele was convinced to kick off the friendly between Fluminense who were visiting Lagos and the Nigerian team, Racca Rovers.
Pele’s trip to Nigeria is documented in his first autobiography in 1977 and in another work published in 2007.
He however discredited the claim that he contributed to the cessation of the civil war.
A viral social media report claims that China plans to close its diplomatic missions in Abuja and Lagos and relocate them to Nike Lake in Enugu and World Bank Road in Owerri. The report further claims that the alleged move is because Igbo people travel to China more frequently than other Nigerians.
But is this claim true?
🔎 WABMA DEBUNKER INVESTIGATES.
In this episode, we examine the viral claim against official Chinese diplomatic records and other credible sources.
Our investigation found no credible evidence that China has announced the closure of its Embassy in Abuja or its Consulate General in Lagos. We also found no verified announcement establishing new Chinese embassies in Enugu or Owerri, or supporting the alleged ethnic explanation for the supposed relocation.
✅ VERDICT: FALSE
The viral claim is unsupported by the official records examined in this investigation. China’s diplomatic missions in Abuja and Lagos remain listed in official Chinese records.
📌 WHY THIS MATTERS
False claims about embassies, visas and international relations can cause unnecessary concern and encourage misinformation. Always check official embassy communications and foreign ministry announcements before sharing sensational reports.
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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Today, we proudly mark the 100th edition of the WABMA Fake News Debunker — published consistently in audio, video, and text formats.
This milestone is more than just a number. It is a testament to our resilience, commitment, and belief in the power of truth. For nearly two years, through changing tides and persistent challenges, we have worked tirelessly to expose misinformation, challenge disinformation, and protect the public discourse in West Africa.
Fake news undermines democracy, endangers lives, and erodes trust. That is why we have stayed the course — week after week — empowering citizens with facts, and strengthening media literacy across communities.
Thank you to every researcher, producer, presenter, and supporter who made this possible. The work continues — because truth still matters.