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.

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: Is this a video of a Nigerien soldier preparing for the ECOWAS joint forces?

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No, the video is of a South Sudanese soldier, Col. Angui Karbino Kuanyin, and has been on the internet since 2019.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A video going viral on X (formerly Twitter) supposedly showing a Nigerien soldier shooting bullets into his mouth and spitting them out is misleading. 

In the video, a soldier has two guns, shoots bullets into his mouth and spits them on the ground.

The post accompanying the video is about the ECOWAS intervention in Niger. It reads: “Here’s a Niger soldier displaying his military prowess using black magic as Ecowas prepares to invade the sovereign nation. We’re sitting on a time bomb in West Africa; no one is safe.”

It was shared on August 19, 2023, and attracted 486 Reposts, 71 quotes, 713 likes, 109 bookmarks, and 113.9K views. The video also attracted a lot of comments, with some claiming it was from Uganda. 

The video was also shared on X by another user on the same day with the same claim.

Screenshot of the tweet as shared on X

Investigation:

From a keyword search using the words:  ‘A man shoots himself and spits out the bullets,’  211 Check found that the video has been on the internet for a long time, seemingly first appearing on July 24, 2019. Reports about the incident appeared on different news outlets in different countries. 

France24’s Observers published the story on July 26, 2019 with the headline “South Sudan colonel shoots himself on video: how he faked it.”

The article identifies the man in the video as Col. Angui Karbino Kuanyin. 

“The colonel in the video is Angui Karbino Kuanyin. Kuanyin comes from a well-known military family; he is the son of General Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, one of the leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, who died back in 1999,” reads parts of the report. 

Screenshot of the article by Observers France24

Likewise, on July 24, 2019, Special Broadcasting Service also published an article with an audio interview in Dinka in which Kuanyin explained how and why he shot himself.

Kuanyin explained the idea behind the video in an interview with Australian media outlet SBS:

“Many people around me didn’t believe I could do that. So I told them to come, and they filmed me doing it. I didn’t want the video to end up online, but other people posted it.

Why did I do it? Every day, people threaten President Kiir. I wanted to show people we can protect the president whenever and wherever. I don’t think it is a crime, but I will go before a court if the president thinks it is.

Lots of people criticised me and said that I was using fake bullets. But they are real bullets! I’m extending the invitation to anyone who wants to come with his or her own weapon and try to prove that I am lying. I have lots of similar videos that I can show you.”

Additionally, on April 2, 2021, Tori Ng News published the story with the headline ‘Meet the African Soldier Who Stops Bullet With His Mouth (Video).

Other sources also clarified the soldier’s origin as being from South Sudan, as seen here, here, here, and here.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the video circulating on social media claiming to be of a Nigerien soldier is false. The video is of a South Sudanese soldier, Col. Angui Karbino Kuanyin, and has been on the internet since 2019.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to 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 Radisson Blu Hotel Juba conducting massive recruitment?

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 No, it is a scam. Radisson Blu Hotel in Juba is not conducting mass recruitment, as claimed by an impostor Facebook page. 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A Facebook page job advertisement that claimed to be from Radisson Blu Hotel, Juba, is a hoax by fraudsters.

The job advertisement, posted on the 28th of August 2023, claimed to offer more than ten different positions using a designed Google application form.

“We are presently seeking committed and industrious individuals to occupy open job positions within our hotel established. Interested individuals should learn more and apply,” reads part of the statement posted alongside the link to the Google application form.

Screenshot of the recruitment scam as posted on Facebook

Suspicious activity:

The fraudulent Facebook page was created on the 27th of August, 2023, and on the 28th, posted about the availability of job vacancies at the hotel according to the page’s profile transparency. The page has no official contacts for email and phone numbers, including the website address, which is unusual for a business entity like the continental hotel.

The Google-designed form link, when clicked, unveils 14 available positions, which include stock controller, waiters/waitresses, receptionists, cleaners, drivers, Cooks, cashiers, accounts clerks, restaurant managers, pastry Chef, gardeners, masseuses, and laundry attendants.

The application form can be filled out using an applicant’s full name, ID number, phone number, email address, gender category, level of education, position, current employment status, work experience, and references before submitting.

Verification:

211 Check reached out to the management of Radisson Blu Hotel Juba via email for inquiry and verification to ascertain the authenticity of the Facebook page job advertisement. However, it turned out that the job advertisement was a scam and fraudulent.

“We are seriously following up on this matter. We have also made [an] announcement to create awareness to the public at large on the ongoing recruitment scam and fraudulent activity,” reads an email correspondent from the management of Radisson Blu Hotel Juba to 211 Check.

“It has come to our attention that there is an ongoing recruitment scam…claiming to represent Radisson Blu Juba, promising job opportunities at our hotel. The safety and security of our community are of utmost importance to us. We want to assure all our valued followers that this is fraudulent activity, and we are taking immediate action to address the situation,” said Radisson Blu Hotel Juba in a statement it made to the public and was also shared with 211 Check.

The Radisson Blu Juba statement was made public to denounce the fake job advert

Findings:

There is no such advert on the website of the Radisson Blu Hotel Juba, and the social media platforms of the hotel have no advertisement of different positions as the Fake Facebook page claimed.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the Facebook page job advert claiming to represent Radisson Blu Hotel Juba is a scam designed by fraudsters to collect their personal information. 

Radisson Blu Hotel Juba management confirmed to 211 Check in an email that the Facebook job advert was not from their institution but a “recruitment scam and fraudulent activity.”

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: Impostor USAID South Sudan Facebook page scamming individuals

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A Facebook page impersonating USAID South Sudan falsely claims to partner with the South Sudan government for economic support, but the page is a recent creation and a hoax aimed at soliciting applications from unsuspecting users.

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook page impersonating USAID South Sudan claims it has partnered with the South Sudan government to support deserving businesses and individuals, but this is a hoax.

The page, which had 18 likes and 104 followers when writing this publication, was created on August 21, 2023, and uses the same cover photo of a lady in a vegetable garden as the original USAID South Sudan Facebook page. 

The imposter page has been running this advertisement claiming to offer opportunities to South Sudanese organisations and showing previous opportunities and beneficiaries of the activities they claim to have done.

“We have partnered with the Government in a plan to spend $ 219.5 Million on a special economic stimulus program to support all deserving businesses, miners, farmers and entrepreneurs that the current global economic crisis has hit,” the post reads in part.

This Google Form Application is then attached to the post.

A screenshot of the sponsored Facebook post

A screenshot of the impostor’s page cover

A screenshot of the page transparency section shows when it was created.

Investigation:

On making comparisons, 211 Check realised significant differences between the two pages. USAID South Sudan, the original page was created on July 8, 2011, and is verified with a blue tick. Contrary to the fake page, the page also describes itself as a government organisation with 31,000 followers.

We discovered that the USAID South Sudan Facebook page is verified with a blue tick. it was created on July 8, 2011, and the page has 31k followers and 54 followers.

Screenshot of the legitimate USAID South Sudan Facebook page

USAID South Sudan shares legitimate opportunities on its social media accounts and website.

Conclusion:

211 Check, after a thorough look, concludes that the claim on an impostor Facebook page of USAID South Sudan that it is offering support to businesses and individuals is a hoax. The page running a sponsored post was recently created to solicit applications from unsuspecting Facebook users.

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: Did Russian President Putin arrive in South Africa for the 2023 BRICS Summit, as video footage shows?

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No, the footage shows Putin arriving for the 2018 BRICS summit in South Africa and was aired by SABC News.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A viral Facebook post with a video showing Russian President Vladimir Putin supposedly arriving for the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa is false. 

The post, shared on 19 August 2023, reads: “President Putting has landed….. (sic).” The video shows Putin being received at the airport. 

The claim, widely shared on Facebook and TikTok, appears to be footage aired by South Africa Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) News. 

A keyword Search using the words “Putin arrives in South Africa for BRICS Summit” shows that the claim was shared widely. 

In one instance, a TikTok user shared the video footage, claiming that the Russian President’s arrival for the BRICS summit in South Africa was a slap to the United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“It’s a slap to the USA and ICC as Vladimir Putin arrives in South Africa for [the] BRICS Summit,” reads the claim text. 

The screenshot of the TikTok claim

The Google Search result also returned a fact-check by RTL Today, debunking the same false claim.

Context:

The BRICS Summit is an international relations conference that brings together heads of state from the BRICS countries namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a group of emerging economies. It was also attended by various heads of state or government officials from other countries around the world.

The claim regarding Putin’s arrival in South Africa surfaced ahead of the three-day 15th BRICS summit held from 22 August 2023 in South Africa.

Putin was supposed to attend the summit as a member of the BRICS. Still, the South African government announced on July 19, 2023, in a statement that the Russian president would not attend the summit, citing it as a mutual agreement.

Notably, the International Criminal Court, which South Africa is a member of, issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March 2023. The warrant subjects him to arrest in any member country of the Hague-based court. 

A keyword search on “Putin arrives in South Africa” on YouTube returns the footage captured by SABC News. It was taken when the Russian President arrived for the 2018 BRICS summit in South Africa. 

For the 2023 BRICS summit, Putin was represented by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

According to a media report, Putin addressed the audience at the summit via a video link but not in person.

Conclusion:

The video supposedly showing Putin arriving for the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa is false. The video was taken by SABC News in 2018 when Putin attended the 10th BRICS summit hosted by South Africa.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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: Former Niger finance minister caught on video crying after allegedly squandering state funds?

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No, the video shows Morou Amadou, the former Justice Minister in Niger, and is unrelated to the coup.  

Writer: Jibi Moses

A video originally posted on Tiktok and making the rounds on WhatsApp claiming that Niger’s former finance minister was crying after being threatened with death by firing squad for stealing from the state coffers is false.  

The video shows a man sobbing and being offered a bottle of water. The WhatsApp message accompanying the video claims that the man, supposedly Niger’s former finance minister, was crying because he was given an ultimatum of 48 hours by the coup plotters to account for all the stolen Nigerien money or else he would be killed by firing squad. The video was shared on July 31, 2023.

 A screenshot of the video as shared on the WhatsApp platform

The video was also presented with the same headline on different websites, such as here and here.

Investigation:

211Check traced the TikTok video to Djibo Amadou, who shared the video on July 26, 2023. 

A Reverse Image Search, of a screengrab from the video returned many results, some dating back as far as 2021.

Sources that used the video with the same or similar headlines include here, here, and  here, among others. 

However, the results also brought up the video as shared on December 27, 2021, by a Facebook user. The video was shared with an accompanying text in Hausa, identified with the help of Google Translate. The text’s translation identifies the person in the video as ‘Morou Amadou, the former Niger minister of Justice.’

A screenshot of the text shared by the Facebook user as translated by Google

We also discovered that the video had been shared on Twitter on December 20, 2021, with a caption in Arabic. Using Google Translate, we realised the post described the man in the video as the former Minister of Justice, ‘Maro Amdo’, who was a minister in Niger between 2011 and 2021. 

The narrative was that the minister was crying while praising the former presidents of Niger, especially Muhammadu Issoufou, with whom he worked for ten years as Minister of Justice.

The screenshot of the tweet is both in arabic and English

Morou Amadou 

A search on Google using the words “Is Morou Amadou the former finance minister of Niger?” returned several results explaining that Amadou was the Former Minister of Justice from April 21, 2011–April 1, 2021.

A picture of Morou Amadou, while still in office as Minister of Justice 

On the other hand, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, the former Finance Minister of Niger, has been appointed the New Prime Minister by coup leader Abdourahmane Tchiani. 

A picture of the former minister of finance, currently the prime minister  (AFP).

Niger coup saga

On July 26, 2023, the Presidential Guard in Niger launched a coup and detained President Mohamed Bazoum and his family. Senior officers from various defence and security forces (FDS) branches formed a junta named the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP). They announced the seizure of power In a televised broadcast. The public response varied, with initial demonstrations in support of Bazoum being dispersed by mutinous soldiers and subsequent demonstrations in support of the CNSP. On July 27, the Nigerien Armed Forces joined the CNSP, citing their intent to avoid lethal confrontation and to safeguard the president and his family. (Source🙂

Conclusion

The claim in the video, which has been widely shared, is false and misleading. This video, which is of former Nigerien Minister of Justice Marou Amadou, has been online since December 2021 and is unrelated to the coup.

Similarly, several fact-checking organisations have also debunked the claim, as seen here, here, and here.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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 important 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: RwandAir isn’t offering government transport subsidies

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RwandAir is not giving transport subsidies to citizens. This claim was made to trick unsuspecting internet users and take their sensitive information.

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A message was forwarded to many  WhatsApp groups and private chats claiming to be Rwanda’s government transport subsidy, giving gifts to their lucky winners with an award of “$1,000,00” after answering some questions.

This is the screenshot of the process shown after answering the questionnaire provided by the link

Then after opening the box, it takes it to another unrelated site, making it suspicious. 

The picture on the congratulatory message was used by the Facebook page Rwanda, the heart of Africa, with the caption, “The national carrier, Rwanda, has been named among the most improved airlines in the world. Kigali international airport has also recorded the best-ever passenger traffic #I love Rwanda. Rwanda is a small country with a big dream,” on December 10th 2018.

Investigation:

211 Check carried out an examination of the URL using Virustotal, an online tool used to detect malware and other suspicious software. It detected the URL as being a phishing link. Phishing links are links created to promote scams or fraudulent activities, and by clicking on them, one’s information can be stolen and used for selfish reasons or to misuse information for personal gain.

The official website for RwandAir is: https://www.rwandair.com/ 

In addition, a Google Lens search shows that Pulse used the picture live.co.ke with the caption, “Here is how many passengers the top 10 African airlines managed to airlift in 2018.”

A screenshot of when Pulse first used the image 

Rwanda Airlines began operating on December 1, 2002, as a new national carrier under the name RwandAir Express [passenger air transportation is the core activity]. Rwanda, with concession, is carrying out airport ground handling ancillary activity at Kigali International Airport.

In March 2009, it was registered with a new trademark, RwandAir, the current operating name. The Rwandan government introduced a 29.3 billion Rwandan franc subsidy to ease the burden on pressed public transport service providers. Information provided by ODA indicates that the government has allocated a subsidy of 29.3 billion Rwandan Francs in the 2021 financial year as a relief payment to hard-pressed public transport operators. Under the now extended covid 19 regulations, Rwandan public transport operators are requested to reduce their load factors to 50% of carrying capacity.

Previously, the same claim had surfaced on the internet and was fact-checked by PesaCheck, as seen in this link.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the circular in WhatsApp groups claiming that the government of Rwanda will issue transportation subsidies and every citizen can get them is false. This is a phishing scam where some individuals collect internet users’ details and use them for their interests or sell them to a third party. The general public should be cautious when dealing with information online. Some information is too good to be true, and verification is needed before trusting any link shared on social media.

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.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to 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

HOAX: This website offering free 50GB data to celebrate WhatsApp’s 10th anniversary is a scam

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The website is fake since WhatsApp’s 10th anniversary was celebrated in 2019

Writer: PesaCheck

This website submitted for fact-checking via PesaCheck’s WhatsApp Tipline, supposedly offering WhatsApp users 50GB of data as part of the company’s 10th anniversary, is a HOAX.

To get the purported data, participants are required to provide their phone numbers and share the link with 12 friends or in WhatsApp groups.

The website has several red flags, among them a suspicious URL, a request for personal details (phone number), and the requirement for users to share the link before receiving data. The red flags prompted us to investigate the website.

Despite PesaCheck following all the steps outlined in the alleged promotion, we did not receive the promised free data. In the final stage, the verification tab was unresponsive and repeatedly redirected us to unrelated web pages.

Additionally, we performed a Whois search and established that the website was registered on 29 January 2023, while the authentic WhatsApp website, Whatsapp.com, was registered in September 2008.

Legitimate sites are usually older than hoax sites. Bogus sites also tend to have concealed registrant details.

From left to right: a WHOIS search for the imposter vs that of the legitimate WhatsApp site.

The website claims that the free data is in celebration of WhatsApp’s 10th anniversary. However, the instant messaging application was founded in 2009 and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019.

On WhatsApp’s verified Twitter account and Facebook page, there’s no information on any such promotion.

PesaCheck examined a website submitted for fact-checking via PesaCheck’s WhatsApp Tipline, supposedly offering WhatsApp users 50GB of data as part of the company’s 10th anniversary celebration and found it to be a HOAX.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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 important 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.

ALTERED: This image purportedly of Bill Gates under armed watch by US Federal marshals is manipulated

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The photo is from an old #DeathPenaltyFail campaign video.

Writer: PesaCheck

This image on a Facebook post purportedly of Bill Gates under armed watch by US Federal marshals at Guantanamo Bay is ALTERED.

The billionaire is strapped to a gurney, according to a claim attributed to The Washington Post.

The post reads: “Bill Gates Arrested by US Federal Marshals; Being Held Under Armed Watch at Guantanamo Bay; Charged With War Crimes Against Humanity. Washington Post.”

A keyword search on The Washington Post’s website shows the media house did not publish such an article on Gates. There is also no information on the alleged arrest from a credible source.

A reverse image search on TinEye established that the image is old and is not of Gates as claimed.

The original image is from a YouTube video available on World News Network (WN.com) dated 16 April 2019 with the title, “#DeathPenaltyFail A Lethal Injection”.

The video description reads: “This video contains images that some viewers may find offensive. A painstaking reconstruction of a real-time execution by lethal injection that highlights some of the very specific issues relating to the USA’s preferred execution method. Using CCTV footage, authentic set design and a script based on real life events, the reality of a lethal injection is heightened to uncomfortable levels.*”

The video is part of the #DeathPenaltyFail campaign pushing for the repeal of the death penalty in the US. It appears on the campaign’s website and was first uploaded on 25 August 2016 on their YouTube channel.

A closer look at the image in the claim alongside the original one shows similarities that indicate Gate’s face was photoshopped into the latter, and a blue filter was added to the image in the claim to make it look different from the original.

From left to right: Image in the claim versus original image

PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post with an image purportedly of Bill Gates held under armed watch by US Federal marshals at Guantanamo Bay and finds it to be ALTERED.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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 important 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.

Explainer: Is the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages harmful to human health?

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Writer:  Ochaya Jackson

A video shared on Facebook on December 15th, 2022, and still making the rounds on social media, claims that Coca-Cola, which is one of the sugar-sweetened beverages, is not fit for the human body.

The three-minute video shows a Coca-Cola drink being poured into a saucepan and is accompanied by text that reads: “I will never buy Coca-Cola again. I discovered the secret.”

The screenshot of the heating stove while Coca-Cola drink is being poured

The video features a female voice narration demonstrating the effects of heating Coca-Cola on a hot stove in a saucepan. The narrator warns people not to drink Coca-Cola while raising questions about its chemical composition. 

The video alleges that Coca-Cola contains sugar and other harmful chemicals for the body. However, it does not specify the exact nature of these chemicals in Coca-Cola drinks.

“Don’t take this. Do you know that you are in danger by taking it? I’m going to show you now why you can not take it. Look now, I’m going to put about two bottles in a pot, and I will show you the danger you are running. People often do not know what they are taking. What is really the composition of Coca-cola? This drink has its chemistry. It is not really good for [the] human body. When you take it you feel your blood pressure rise,” the female’s voice explanation about the Coca-Cola drink on the video claimed. Four people die of diabetes. It is something very dangerous. The whole world knows that the sugar level is very high. It does more damage to your health,” the narrator claims.  

Additionally, the video suggests Kappa Tea as a healthier alternative, emphasising that it is produced ‘without sugar’.

Coca-Cola falls under sugar-sweetened/carbonated beverages, along with other sodas with added sugar.

Investigation:

211 Check researched on Coca-Cola drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages, using publicly available data or literature on beverage drinks; and it gathered that excessive consumption of such drinks is unhealthy for the human body.

A study published in 2015 by the U.S.-based National Institute of Health, estimated that 184,000 people globally died due to sugary drink consumption. 

“Worldwide, the model estimated 184,000 deaths/year attributable to Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB) consumption: 133,000 (126,000–139,000) from diabetes, 45,000 (26,000–61,000) from cardiovascular diseases, and 6,450 (4,300–8,600) from cancers. 5.0% of SSB-related deaths occurred in low-income, 70.9% in middle-income, and 24.1% in high-income countries,” indicates the study. 

Similarly, a 2016 study on rats examined the effects of Coca-Cola consumption on rodents and found that those who consumed the beverage developed kidney and liver malfunctions compared to rats that did not drink it. Notably, the study emphasized the need for further research to confirm whether these effects extend to humans.

Likewise, in 2018, the National Institute of Health published a literature review detailing the impact of sugary drinks on the brain. The review revealed that sugar-sweetened beverages increase the risk of stroke and dementia due to the compounds and chemicals they contain.

According to Medical News Today, regular consumption of sugary drinks can increase blood sugar levels and affect the brain’s pleasure centres in a manner similar to heroin. There is also a confirmed link between sugary drinks and diabetes and their adverse effects on kidney and liver activity.

However, the report suggests that moderate consumption of Coca-Cola and sugar-sweetened beverages has only a minimal impact on human health.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Australia, in one of its advisories, acknowledges that many of its beverages contain sugar and that moderate consumption is considered healthy. Nevertheless, excessive consumption is not advisable for human health.

“Many of our beverages contain sugar, which has kilojoules. While sugar is fine in moderation, too much of it isn’t good for anyone. Consuming too many kilojoules, including soft drinks with sugar, can contribute to weight gain,” it said on its website.

Further, Coca-Cola recommends a maximum of 150 milligrams per day, which, according to Mathaauditor and Flightpedia, equals 0.15 millitters. 

Fact-sheet

In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) updated its guidelines on free sugar intake, recommending less than 10% of total daily energy consumption for adults and children. It further conditionally suggested reducing free sugar intake to less than 5%, equivalent to 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day, for better health.

Free sugars include those added to foods and drinks by manufacturers, cooks, or consumers and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juice concentrates. A single can of sugar-sweetened soda contains up to 40 grams (around ten teaspoons) of free sugar, according to the WHO.

According to a 2022 report by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay, cavities, gout, and arthritis. To maintain a healthy weight and dietary pattern, individuals are advised to limit their intake of sugary drinks.

Conclusion:

Research shows that excessive consumption of Coca-Cola or other sugar-sweetened beverages may harm human health, and moderate consumption is therefore advisable.

To maintain good health and a healthy weight, individuals should consume these drinks moderately to reduce the risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular issues, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, obesity, and related illnesses.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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