African News
Was there a power outage at the National Assembly during Minister’s visit?
An online blog, instablog9ja, @ instablog, posted that there was a power outage at the national assembly when the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, was in the Senate chamber for a public hearing.
The claim is TRUE.
Adelabu was in Abuja on Monday, 29th April 2024 at a one-day investigative hearing on stopping the new electricity tariff increase by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission from onward implementation by the Distribution Companies.
During the panel, he said the Federal Government requires 10 billion US dollars annually for the next ten years to revive the nation’s power sector and end the liquidity challenge.
A day after his visit, on 30thApril 2024, an online blog, instablog9ja posted a picture of the minister with the headline: “Power reportedly going off at the National Assembly, while the minister of power was in the building.”
The post garnered 1.9 million views, 4,918 reposts, 1,205 quotes, and over 30,000 likes.
In the comment section, an X user, Owokodu-Idris(@ajelvy-oia), said,
“Was that a sabotage or coincidence? National Assembly should be running on generators or inverters during sessions with that kind of budget they have year in and out!”
Desire (@tife-desire) wrote, “Nah minister order boys to turn off the light…National assembly no pay for B and A.”
It was observed that the mainstream media such as,Punch and Leadership newspapers also reported the story. It was reported that the power outage lasted for about five minutes.
According to Punch Newspaper, MrAdelabu was answering questions from senators at an investigative hearing on “the need to halt the increase in the price of electricity” organised by the Senate Committee on Power when the power went off.
CONCLUSION
Available evidence reveals that there was a power outage while the minister was in the building, although it only lasted five minutes, therefore the claim is TRUE.
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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Become a skilled media professional in just 5 weeks.
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🌐 wabma.org
📰 Ep.117–WABMA Fake News Debunker;
Did U.S. Troops Arrive in Nigeria in February 2026? Here’s the Truth Behind the Viral Video
