Fact-check: This video doesn’t show an African child being urinated on by a French in 2023

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The video is an old clip of artist Regina José Galindo demonstrating women’s suffering and violence. It was filmed in Brazil in 2013.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video clip widely shared on WhatsApp groups with the claim that a Malian citizen was arrested in a French village and humiliated by members of the public taking turns urinating on him in front of a crowd while stripped naked is false and misleading.

The text accompanying the video accused France of human rights violations and claimed that the incident happened after France’s Ambassador was expelled from Mali.

In the video, a black person lies on the ground in front of the crowd while some people take turns urinating on them.

“Let’s make this viral until the people responsible for this human rights abuse are arrested and prosecuted. This is the filth of France, the ugliest scandal of the twenty-first century. In the inhuman and shocking scene of two men and a woman urinating on an African child in one of the French villages, the child, completely stripped of clothes, lies face down on the ground, while the number of French men and women whose country have always shocked the world with the sophistication of their civilisation are watching this obscene, dirty, and abnormal act, without any sign of intervention from any of them,” reads the text accompanying the video clip.

“This was after the state of Mali expelled the French ambassador. The French arrested one of the Malians in a French village and urinated on him publicly. Africa must wake up to see the true, ugly face of France. We regret the ugliness and horror of the scene, but where are the human rights advocates in this? It is unfortunate that globally, Black Africans are associated,” it added.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp video and the accompanying text claim

The claim did not mention the location of the French village or where and when the video was taken.

However, according to a media report, France’s Ambassador to Mali, Joel Meyer, was expelled in January 2022 after the Malian military government issued a 72-hour ultimatum for him to leave the West African country.

Claim Verification:

A reverse image search on Yandex returned that the video was used on other online platforms, including a Russian website,  Pnovosti,  which published an article about the video in 2020. According to the article, a Latin American woman covered herself with coal dust and asked people passing by to urinate on her to demonstrate a woman suffering violence. 

The same claim was posted here and here.

211 Check traced the video’s origin on Yandex’s reverse image search results and found that the person in the video being urinated on is an artist called Regina Jose Galindo. The artist was filmed in 2013 during a performance in Brazil’s city of Sao Paulo to show the humiliation and exploitation women face, according to the description by an Arabic YouTube channel that posted the video in February 2022. 

A review of the video’s description reveals the link to Galindo’s website, where a picture of the artist lying on the ground was published under Works 2013. It was featured with a poetry piece dubbed Stone that states that two volunteers and someone from the audience would urinate on her ‘stone body.’

Galindo covered herself with coal dust to appear black during her performance when being filmed. There is no reference to the humiliation of a black African or a Malian citizen by the French.

Galindo’s 2013 project has also been featured here and here. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds a video with a claim that a Malian citizen was arrested in a French village and urinated on false. The video is an old clip of artist Regina José Galindo, filmed in Brazil in 2013 while demonstrating women’s suffering and violence.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.


It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Does eating food heated in plastic containers cause cancer?

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No, there is no sufficient evidence that eating food from plastic containers exposed to heat can cause cancer.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

An image circulating on WhatsApp claims that, according to the American Doctors Association, consuming food from plastic materials exposed to heat can cause cancer.

The message states that you should not take tea in plastic cups, eat anything hot in a plastic bag, or heat foodstuff in a microwave using plastic materials. It cautions 

that ‘when plastic gets into contact with heat, it produces chemicals which may cause 52 types of cancer.’

The message ends with a call to action: “Therefore, this SMS is better than 100 useless SMS. Inform your loved ones to be free from such effects. Share with everyone.”

Screenshot from the WhatsApp image

The same claim was also shared on a website called America’s Best Pictures and Videos, which adds that plastic materials can cause cancer cells to grow in the body.

Screenshot from the website.

Verification of the American Doctors Association page and website

According to a  Google Search, there is seemingly no organisation by that name, which suggests it does not exist. Instead, existing organisations include the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and the American Medical Association. 

According to  Cancer Research UK, an independent cancer organisation in the United Kingdom, drinking hot tea in plastic cups cannot cause cancer. Additionally, using plastic does not increase the risk of cancer, and it is safe to drink from plastic bottles, use plastic containers, cling film, and store food in plastic bags.

Cancer Research UK also added that even when plastics are heated for hours, studies have shown that the food inside remains safe.

Other studies, here and here, indicate that drinking hot tea can increase cancer risk. However, the studies do not mention the increased risk of consuming tea from plastic cups. 

Plastic materials are everywhere in our homes, such as plates, baby feeding bottles, cutlery, food containers, fibreglass, water coolers, etc.

According to Doctor Ashwini Kumar Setya, a senior consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Gastroenterology Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Science, Gurugram- India, when hot food is kept in plastic material, it can produce a chemical which is not scientifically proven to cause cancer.

“…And some of these chemicals, like Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, might do strange things to your body, mimicking and disrupting hormones in ways that even scientists haven’t fully understood,” Dr Ashwini K. Setya said

In an interview with 211 Check,  Dr. Catherine Naliaka Nyongesa, a physician radiation oncologist and CEO of Texas Cancer Centre, Nairobi, explained that no substantial literature supports the claim.

She disclosed that: “I think more research is needed to provide evidence to support such claims.’’ 

According to the FDA, there are plastics labelled for microwave use only that are safe to use. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has also advised that people can use glass, ceramic, plastic containers and plastic wrap labelled for microwave use. 

Further instructions include:

  • Always follow the label’s instructions when using microwave-safe containers to heat food.
  • Never heat or store food in plastic containers not intended for food. Single-use containers, like margarine tubs, tend to warp or melt in the microwave. This may allow more of the substances in the plastic to leach into the food.
  • Let food cool before adding it to a plastic container, then put it in the fridge immediately. Avoid plastics that are visibly damaged, stained, or have a bad smell.

Conclusion:

According to investigations by 211 Check, scientific evidence suggests that certain chemicals can be leached into food from plastic materials. However, the amounts and potential health risks of these chemicals remain unconfirmed.

Hence, it is vital to choose plastic bags or materials specifically designed for food and labelled as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use them. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Is this South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice?

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No, this is one of the statues of the Symbol of Justice found in Nigeria. 

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook post by Insight Juba with an image supposedly of South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice is false. The image of a statue supported by a stick was shared with the caption, “South Sudan’s statue[ symbol] of justice is tired already.” 

The post had attracted 182 likes, eight comments, and three shares at publication.

A screenshot of the post as published by Insight Juba.

Claim Verification:

211 Check carried out a reverse image search using Google Lens and found instances where the image had been shared in the past. 

In one instance, the image had been posted on X (formerly Twitter) on July 30, 2017. The post reads, “Lmaoooooooooooooo even the symbol of justice in Nigeria is tired(sic).”

Screenshot of the X post. 

Other sources that published the image are listed here and here. 

However, according to various Nigerian sites, the statue was restored as reported here, here, here, here and here.

A further reverse search of the restored statue brings up a clearer image published by the Daily Post in February 2021. 

What is the Statue/Symbol of Justice?

According to LawPadi, the Nigerian Symbol of Justice is a statue of a blindfolded lady holding a sword on one hand and a scale on the other. The blindfold symbolises that justice should be impartial and, therefore, enforces neutrality.

Heather & Little Ltd, in their article, explain in detail the meanings behind the ‘Lady of Justice’ Statue:

“Artwork depicting the Lady of Justice statue, whether in paintings, sculptures, coats of arms, or metal statues, is found worldwide. In North or South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Asia, or Australasia, you will likely see the Lady of Justice statue in courthouses, law offices, and legal and educational institutions. The history of the Lady Justice statue goes back many thousands of years, and she typically carries symbols of justice.”

Notably, in Nigeria, this symbol of justice is in different forms, although all the features remain the same and carry the same meaning throughout all the country’s courtrooms. 

On the other hand, South Sudan does not have a statue representing the symbol of Justice and instead uses The National Coat of Arms, which was officially adopted in 2011. It features an African fish eagle with open wings, bearing a gold shield and a crossed spear and spade placed behind the shield. The eagle is seen facing its right side and symbolises strength, resilience, and vision, while the shield and spear represent the protection of the new sovereign state and the people’s hard work to feed it.

South Sudan’s Coat of Arm

Conclusion:

211 Check found a Facebook post by Insight Juba with an image supposedly of South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice as false. The image shows a statue of Nigeria’s Symbol of Justice, which has since been rectified. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Afriland First Bank in Juba isn’t giving Poverty Relief Fund

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The claim that Afriland First Bank is giving a National Poverty Relief Fund is a hoax and trick designed by scammers to obtain personal details. 

Writer: Abraham Athian

A WhatsApp link widely shared in several direct messages and groups claiming that Afriland First Bank is giving National Poverty Relief Fund worth $ 800 (Eight hundred United States Dollars) is a hoax. 

When clicking on the link, the website claims that a lucky user will have a chance to win $800 after filling out a questionnaire, which inquires about the user’s details and his/her knowledge about Afriland First Bank.

A screenshot of a WhatsApp link 

The scammers are very tricky. They will tell you to answer the questionnaire first and share the link with five WhatsApp groups and 20 friends about their promotion. And wait for the gift to be delivered within 5-7 days after completing the registration. 

Screenshot of a website claim 

The web page has very encouraging comments. Someone may think that the promotion is real because of other people’s comments, which motivate the users to believe in the promotion, for example. “Thanks @ Afriland First Bank! Really, I got a gift”. “I told my friends about it so they can get it too,” which, in the actual sense, is misleading because the comments are static, and the profiles are fake as well as not clickable.

Screenshot of some comments 

Claim Verification:

The Afriland First Bank In Cameroon issued a statement on its Facebook page on Thursday, September 14, 2023. The Post read, “BEWARE OF SCAMMERS”!!! Over the last few days, ill-intentioned individuals have been posing online as Afriland First Bank. They propose a link to access a web platform to steal personal data from internet users.”

They offer users the possibility of substantial amounts being provided, and they participate in a popular nationwide subsidy scheme launched online by First Bank. 

“We wish to inform our esteemed customers and general public that we have not organised such an online scheme. We further wish to remind our customers that we automatically publish our official information on our website ( www.afrilandfirstbank.com ) and our social media platform,” the statement reads in part.

The bank denounced what it called “this fraudulent scheme” devised by scammers and requested the public to be vigilant, considering the growing number of attempts by unscrupulous individuals to defraud unsuspecting users online.

Screenshot of the post by Afriland First Bank

On a separate search for domain details, Whois shows that the fake domain was registered on August 1, 2023, and will expire in August next year. 

Screenshot of a fake domain.

On the contrary, the Whois results for Afriland First Bank’s official website show that it was registered on March 23, 2002, and will expire on March 23, 2024.

Screenshot of Afriland First Bank Domain 

Moreover, the website domain name http://treasuretreat.top/adwtqp/88851586737290191952 does not match the official Afriland First Bank URL www.afrilandfirstbank.com proving that it was a fraudulent scheme designed by the scammers to defraud people. 

A further search by VirusTotal detected that the URL link is Suspicious, Malicious, and Phishing hence, it is unsafe to use. 

Screenshot of Virus Total results 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim that Afriland First Bank is giving the National Poverty Relief Fund a hoax. It is a trick intended to collect personal information and defraud people by scammers. 

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a Pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This is not President Kiir buying potatoes in Munuki Market

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The picture has been on Facebook since September 6, 2023, but its origin is unknown.

Writer: Doki Simon James

A photo shared on a Facebook post by Top in South Sudan allegedly showing President Kiir in Muniki Market, buying potatoes, is false.

Munuki is one of the largest suburbs in Juba City, with two famous main markets of  Suk Libya and  Suk Melissa close to each other.

“Kiir in Munuki Market is buying potatoes today at 4 p.m.,” claims Top in South Sudan’s Post. 

At the time of publication, this claim had attracted 211 reactions, 16 comments, and ten shares, with mixed reactions from members of the public.  A comment from one viewer, “Day by Day,”  said “Thank you for supporting this woman’s business, but you, please purchase her business with some small tip”, while another one lamented, “Photocopy of Kiir.” 

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Top in South Sudan 

Claim Verification:

On investigation, we found that the claim made by Top in South Sudan, an online blog on Facebook, is false.

Levi Kuron, a vendor at Munuki Suk Libya, told 211 Check that the President of the Republic, Salva Kiir, didn’t visit Munuki Market on the stated date and time claimed by the post. Mary Atai, who sells at Munuki Suk Melissa, also said it is untrue, citing that it is unusual.

The post used a photo of a long-bearded person wearing a black suit, a hat (attires familiar to the president), and the name Kiir to create a positive impression in the public and justify the claim that President Kiir went shopping in Munuki Market. 

However, online searches on Google reverse image search, TinEye, and Yandex could not find evidence to confirm that the photo used in the post was taken in Munuki Market or that the person in the photo was President Kiir, as it was never shared on other online platforms. 

Conclusion:

211 Check found the claim made by Top in South Sudan’s Facebook post of a man buying potatoes in Munuki market, alleged to be Kiir, as false. The president of the Republic made no such visit to the Munuki market on the claimed date and time of the post. The photo in the post was not taken in Munuki Market, and the person in the photo is not President Kiir.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Was this house built in Uganda by a menial labourer working in Saudi Arabia?

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No, the pictures were first shared by Nigerian actress Chizzy Alichi in 2017 after she built her parents a mansion.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A Facebook post by Klia Media.ug claiming to show a house allegedly built in Uganda by a Ugandan menial labourer working in Saudi Arabia is false.

The page shared images of two buildings and two pictures of the same person in different situations. In the photo, there are pictures of a dilapidated building and a newly built mansion. It was accompanied by a caption in both Luganda and English.

Screenshot of the post as shown on Klia Media.ug

“Kadama we Saudi abikooze!!

2 year contract in Saudi Arabia congs Aisha”

Kadama is a common Luganda (unregistered) slang term, literally translated as someone doing a menial labour job. Therefore, the post translates to: “A migrant worker in Saudi Arabia has done it! A 2-year contract in Saudi Arabia. Congratulations Aisha.”

The post, which was shared on August 31, 2023, attracted 37k reactions, 5.7k comments, and 69 shares. However, some of the commenters pointed out that the pictures were taken in Nigeria, while others claimed that a two-year contract salary in Saudi Arabia as a housekeeper cannot raise such a house,amidst hundreds of congratulations. This prompted 211Check to run an investigation. 

Claim Verification:

211 Check ran a Google Lens search, which showed that the image had been used on the internet since December 2017, and traced the picture to Nigeria. 

NairaLand Forum, on December 27, 2017, ran a story with the headline, Nollywood Actress Chizzy Alichi Builds Mansion For Her Parent.

The site also attached two pictures of the dilapidated building and the new mansion. They explain that they got the information from her Instagram account and quote her as having said:

“People have always refer to me as “mgbeke” (local girl) that I don’t know fashion or carry designer bags/shoes/clothes. That I don’t wear expensive hair. Well, my darlings, I do know and want to wear those things, but I have been saving for this building right here. I can’t remember d last time my family travelled for Xmas because their is no house to stay (sic).”

Torizone, another Nigerian online news outlet, published the same story with the same pictures on December 26, 2017.

Similarly, Legit, another Nigerian online newspaper, published a story on October 27, 2022, with the headline, Nollywood actress Chizzy Alichi builds a mansion for her parents.  

The image has been widely used on the internet, and here are some of the sources; here, here, here, and here, among others.

In the claim, the page claims the owner of the house is called Aisha; however, all the sources 211Check has gathered clearly define the owner of the house as Chizzy Alichi.

Chizzy Alichi’s Biography

Chigozie Stephanie Alichi, often known as Chizzy Alichi, is a Nigerian film actress born on December 23, 1993. She stumbled into Nollywood in 2010. She joined the Actors Guild of Nigeria by chance, applied for a movie role, and landed her first acting job.

A picture of Chizzy Alichi as used by Yours Truly

Housekeeping jobs in the Middle East:

The demand for housekeeping jobs in the Middle East has been on the rise, and East Africa, particularly Uganda, has been one of the fertile grounds for providing the needed human resources. 

According to a publication by The Monitor Newspaper, this was made easier by emerging companies (1 and 2), which help facilitate the processes of visa processing and transportation. 

In the long run, many people have successfully emigrated and gotten jobs with ease. However, there have been moments when the media reported on situations where workers became victims of mistreatment while in the Middle East.

A screenshot of a publication by Monitor Newspaper 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that the viral pictures of Aisha, a Ugandan menial labourer in Saudi Arabia, are false; the pictures are of actress Chizzy Alichi and were taken in 2017, when she built her parents a mansion in Nigeria.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check  with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: The United Nations isn’t running a peace and security gift in South Sudan

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The online message claiming that the United Nations is running a peace and security gift program of SSP 100,000 is a hoax.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A widely circulated WhatsApp message stating that the United Nations (UN) is running a peace and security gift programme of SSP 100,000 is a hoax.

Screenshot of the forwarded message.

Upon clicking the forwarded link, the website claims that the United Nations (UN) has a peace and security gift programme and directs users to a questionnaire that asks about their knowledge of the United Nations (UN), their age, their opinion about the United Nations (UN), and their gender.

The screenshot of the questionnaire

After answering the four questions, users are instructed to randomly select one of six boxes to win the prize potentially.

The screenshots of the claim web pages

The website then states that participants must share the promotion with five groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp, provide an address for registration, and wait for the gift to be delivered within 5-7 days.

Web pages on the impostor’s website

Claim Verification:

A Google Keyword Search using “United Nations – peace and security gift” yielded no results for such a program or subsidy.

Further investigation revealed that the website’s Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link provided in the claim is flagged as Phishing, Malicious, and containing Malware by VirusTotal, a free service that analyses files and URLs for viruses, worms, trojans, and other types of malicious content.

A Whois domain search of the website’s URL shows that the domain name, which differs from the UN’s domain, was registered in May 2023 and will expire in May 2024.

The screenshot of the claim link’s domain data

On the other hand, the WhoIs information on the UN’s official global website reveals that its domain was registered in January 1995 and will expire in February 2024.

The screenshot of the UN WhoIs data

Additionally, the website domain name https://www.u3rv61e.cn does not align with the URLs typically used by official organisations or institutions, which usually feature ‘.org’ in their URLs, as is the case with the legitimate United Nations Website.

It is evident that the domain does not match the official UN website, and there is no advertisement for such a program on the UN’s website or social media accounts.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that the UN is running a peace and security gift program, a hoax devised as a phishing scam to trick people into providing their personal information.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This picture is not of a South Sudanese man in Gudele, Juba

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The picture has been online since August 2023, but its origin is unknown.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A photo shared in a post by Top in South Sudan, a Facebook page allegedly showing a man in Gudele, Juba, is false.

Gudele is a large neighbourhood in South Sudan’s capital Juba City.

“Gudele Man shared an amazing picture of himself and his bestie watching the music video “RELAX”….,” claims Top in South Sudan’s post.

211 Check investigation reveals that the photo shared by the page was not captured in Gudele, as claimed. 

The photo has been posted multiple times on various social media platforms by different media houses, indicating its widespread usage.

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Top in South Sudan

Claim Verification:

Upon investigation, it was found that the claim made by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page is false. Our research indicates that the photo shared by the page was not captured in Gudele, as they claim. 

A simple Google reverse image search revealed that multiple media houses have used the same photo across different social media platforms. This indicates that the photo in question is not exclusive to Gudele Man or the Top in South Sudan Facebook page. 

Several media outlets have shared the same picture in various contexts, such as travel articles, lifestyle features, and unrelated news stories. 

The photo has been circulating on the internet for some time and has no direct correlation to the claimed scenario of a man in Gudele, Juba, watching a music video.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim in a post by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page, allegedly a photo of a man in Gudele, Juba, false. The photo shared was not taken in Gudele, as claimed, and has been widely circulated across various social media platforms by different media houses.

Online fact-checking tools such as Google Reverse Image Search can help identify an image’s source and usage history. Users must exercise caution and verify claims before sharing or accepting them as true.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: These pictures of flooding in Unity State are old

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The pictures are from 2022 floods.

Writer: Abraham Athian 

A Facebook post by Bentiu TV allegedly showing photos of a recent flooding incident in Unity State is false. 

The post was published with the caption, “These pictures really make some people happy?” on September 9, 2023.

A screenshot of the Facebook post by Bentiu TV

The post drew the attention of many of the page’s audience, some of whom thought the pictures were of a flooding report in September 2023, garnering 129 likes, 34 comments, and six shares, which made it relevant enough to be checked. 

Claim Verification:

A Google search engine shows that a picture of a plane on water has been online since 2022. South Sudan Eagle Media posted it on X (formerly Twitter). A post read, “The images of Bentiu and Rukona on Unity State floods”. On October 9, 2022.

A screenshot of a post from South Sudan Eagle Media 

The same picture is also on the New Hope Foundation website. Moreover, the other pictures were also posted on the UNHCR  website in July 2023, clearly showing that these pictures were collected from different pages.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds a Facebook post allegedly showing pictures of a recent flooding incident in Unity State false. The pictures are from 2022 floods. 

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a Pay Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: WhatsApp picture with Nigerian Airtel number can’t kill

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The image was taken in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2019 and is unrelated to picking calls from a specific Nigerian Airtel number.

Writer: Abraham Athian 

A picture shared with a Nigerian Airtel number on several WhatsApp groups alleging that it can kill you when you answer a call from that number is a hoax.

The photo with the number claimed to have killed people who answered the call from it was shared on several WhatsApp groups on September 9, 2023, with the caption: “pls dnt pick dis number 09072256632, dnt be selfish, send it 2 all ur friends, pls save life”. 

The picture was widely shared in WhatsApp groups. 

It has caused fear and worry for many WhatsApp users, including myself, so 211 Check took the time to investigate and verify its accuracy so that it cannot mislead others who may come across it. 

Claim Verification:

A Google Reverse Image Search shows that the picture was taken in Nigeria, in Lagos, and has been online since 2019. On January 16, 2019, the  Ng Daily News published it.  The only paper that can be traced on the internet has the story featuring the image with the headline “Eiye Cultists Kill Man For Mingling With Aiye Gang Members In Lagos“.

The article explains who was killed and why they killed him. It goes on to name him as ‘Afeez, a barber in the Mile 12 area of Lagos State. The incident, which caused apprehension in the community, occurred on January 6, 2019, at Akorounfayo Street, Mile 12.

The leader of the Aiye Confraternity, identified as Timo, was killed on Thursday of that week at Moro Junction, also in the Mile 12 area, according to the news report.

“The barber had locked his shop and was about to go home when the Eiye cult group members, who rode on motorbikes to his shop, shot at him and escaped.” Immediately after they shot him, the cultists escaped. After the attack, some Aiye members said Afeez was killed because they usually sat in his shop.

“Unfortunately, he was not a cult member. It was because of the snooker they usually play in his shop that they thought he was an Aiye member. They have wasted an innocent boy for nothing.

A screenshot of the image used by Ng Daily News.

On a separate search for this number, 09072256632, the True Caller website shows that the number is harmless. It has made 37 calls, 289 spam reports, 2,127 look-ups, and 65% pick-up rates in Nigeria.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim in a picture shared in different WhatsApp groups, purportedly causing death after picking up a call from a Nigerian Airtel number written on it,  a  hoax. The picture was taken in Lagos, Nigeria, and first published by the Ng Daily News in January 2019 of an incident involving a killing by a gang group. The culture of spreading fake news by sharing without verification is not good. It can cause harm to the public.

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