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| - FOLLOWING the killing of soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State, social media users have shared a video showing a ship engulfed by fire with a claim that they were set ablaze by men of the Nigerian Army to avenge the death of their colleagues.
The ICIR reported that 15 military personnel were killed during a communal clash in the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
There have been concerns by Nigerians over possible reprisal on the village by the Nigerian Army following the incident.
The ICIR reported that residents of the community are said to have fled to neighbouring Ughelli for fear of reprisal by the soldiers who have been on patrol.
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An X user with the the username: @General_Somto posted the video with a caption that read:
“Nigerian Soldiers Still On Revenge Mission: Another Community Set Ablaze By Nigeria Army In Delta State.
“Meanwhile In The North, Boko Haram Terrorists Are Granted Amnesty, Fulani Herdsmen Are Protected By The Government, Bandits Are Getting Paid And Rehabilitated. These Are Criminals And Terrorists Responsible For The Deaths Of Thousands Of Nigerians Including Nigeria Soldiers And Police Officers. It’s Only In The South East (SS and SE) That Nigeria Military Goes On Revenge Missions. Why Not Go After The Perpetrators And Leave Innocent Civilians Out Of It. Why Burning Down The Whole Community.”
The post has garnered about 100,000 views, with over 1,000 reposts and more than 1,000 likes as of March 18, 2024.
Another X user, @EmekaGift100 posted the video with another caption thus:
“Okuama in Delta state is being razed down as of this morning by rampaging Nigerian Soldiers. Nigerian Army have declared war in that region. I keep asking this question, despite the atrocities happening in North, the killing of soldiers in the north, It has never been heard that Nigeria Army went there and set a whole community ablaze because of the action of bandits. The rational of setting Okuama community ablaze, burning women and children alive is still what humanity is begging for answer. If Soldiers are attacked why not go after those that attacked soldiers? You have the intelligence. Why showing your powers and military power on innocent children and woman? What stops you from confronting the bandits that attacked you?
“What happened in Okuama is the replica of what happened during Biafra war in Asaba when Nigerian army circled surrendering civilians in Asaba and opened fire on them. This is inhuman act that should not be justified and whosever trying to justify the slaughter of innocent children and women by Nigerian army just because in their community criminals attacked soldiers is evil.
“What is the crime of the helpless children, women, old burnt alive by Nigerian Army?
Nigeria army is discriminatory in discharging their national duties hence showcasing their disdain to people of old Eastern region.”
The post has generated over 90,000 views, plus over 600 reposts and more than 500 likes as of March 18, 2024.
CLAIM
Video shows ships set ablaze by soldiers in Delta community.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The FactCheckHub subjected the keyframes in the video, which has gone viral on X, to a Google Reverse Image search. The result shows that the video has been online before the reported killing of soldiers in Delta state.
An earlier version of the video was posted by a TikTok user, @shugaberries on January 29, 2024 prior to the Delta incident. However, the viral version of the video has been cut in the middle.
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According to the user, the video depicts a purported fire outbreak at Nembe waterside near Creek Road in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state. There is no indication that the video is related to any reprisal attack by troops of the Nigerian Army in Delta state.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows a purported reprisal attack by the troops of the Nigerian Army in Delta state is MISLEADING; the video, which has been online since January 2024, was from a reported fire outbreak at Nembe waterside in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state and NOT related to the Delta incident.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
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