The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru Elrufai claimed there are less than 200,000 members of the Nigerian Armed forces and about 300,000 men of the Police.
El-Rufai made this claim while answering questions on security on behalf of his principal and Presidential Candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu at the Chatham House.
This claim is false, here are the reasons
Data available on the world bank website shows that Nigeria has 223,000 men in the army in 2019. The graph shows that the army size has been on the increase without a decline since the year 2000 (over 19 years of increase). This is 23,000 more than El-Rufai’s claim.
Research also shows that the army recruited 5000 in 2019 and according to the commander, of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army, Stephen Olabanji, 21,885 persons are expected to be recruited, trained and commissioned in 2022. However, only 5800 were recruited
Though 148 military men were reported dead in 2019, the number of departures/ death has had no significant impact on the strength of the Nigerian army.
Former inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris in 2018 said there are about 334, 000 policemen in the country
Conclusion
This claim by El-Rufai is FALSE as he underrepresented the number of the Nigerian Police and army.
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.