West Africa’s verification and fact-checking platform, Dubawa, has concluded plans to induct twenty-six (26) fellows into its 2021 cohort of fact-checkers to combat misinformation in the sub-region. The platform, under the aegis of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), announced the commencement of the yearly fellowship in Abuja[Read More…]
Tag: dubawa
Fact Check: Email purportedly from Gtbank requesting customers details to link their NIN is a scam
By Elfredah Kevin -Alerechi Claim: An email sent to an individual claiming to emanate from Guaranty Trust Bank directed individuals to click a URL and link their registered account phone numbers with their National Identity Number (NIN) failure before December 30, 2020, of which the account will be blocked. Verdict:[Read More…]
Why you should seek expert medical attention when ill
By Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi The internet is over flooded with a lot of information which includes how to care for our health, the best medical practice that befits one’s health and many other health-related matters. However, many of the authors of these posts are not medical experts but people with some[Read More…]
Fact Check: How true is Lai Mohammed’s claim that blank ammunition can not kill anyone?
By Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi Claim: Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, has claimed that soldiers who attacked unarmed protesters used blank ammunition, and blank ammunition cannot do any damage to the flesh, not to talk of killing anyone Verdict: FALSE: Blank ammunition if not used properly can kill. Studies and reports have confirmed[Read More…]
Fact Check: Reno Omokri’s claim on Nigeria’s foreign debt is false
CLAIM: Reno Omokri, a former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, claims that President Buhari inherited a foreign debt of 7billion USD from his predecessor. He also claims that Nigeria’s debt, which currently stands at 34billion USD, is one hundred times the budget for youths. VERDICT: False. It is untrue[Read More…]
Fact Check: Will holding Nigerian flags really prevent soldiers from shooting protesters?
By Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi Claim: Some Twitter users claim that holding the Nigerian flag by protesters will prevent soldiers from shooting them. Verdict: No Evidence. There is no evidence to back up the claim. Full Text: Since thousands of Nigerians started calling for the end to police brutality and total reform[Read More…]
Fact Check: Video of Wike accusing SARS officers of misconduct is edited version of 2017 clip
By Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi Claim: Some social media users are circulating a video of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, wherein he purportedly accused operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of perpetrating crime in Nigeria, thereby suggesting the Governor’s support for the nationwide #EndSARS protest. Verdict: False: The recent circulating[Read More…]
How Advanced search can make difference in open source investigation
Open Source Intelligence is the process of collecting and analysing publicly accessible information whether as data from available sources on the internet or news media content. It can also be information made available to the public through request, purchase, or subscription. Information shared at a public event such as town[Read More…]
Fact Check: A website offers freebies for people to stay home, then invades users’ privacy
By Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi Claim: Information circulating across WhatsApp groups claims that a free N4, 000 and 1000GB internet data is available for all Nigerians to stay safe at home. Verdict: FALSE. The promise of N4, 000 and 1000GB free internet data available for all Nigerians to stay at home is[Read More…]
Fact Check: Did Obasanjo really inherit $3 billion in foreign reserves?
CLAIM: A twitter user, Chijioke, claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo inherited $3bn and left $54bn in foreign reserves when he left office. VERDICT: False. In 1999 when Obasanjo assumed office, Nigeria’s foreign reserve was US$5.65billion and US$51.91billion in 2007 when he left office. FULL TEXT: A twitter user, Chijioke,[Read More…]
