Taiwo Adeyemi

Claim: An X user shared a video that protest against hardship has started in some states.

Verdict: Misleading! Findings revealed that the video was obtained during a protest that happened in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital in February, 2024.

Full Text

President Bola Tinubu decision to end petrol subsidy payment during his inaugural speech on 29th May, 2023 which has resulted in inflation and high cost of living. 

The economic hardship has prompted some group to plan a nationwide protest #endbadgovernance across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from. 1st August, 2024. 

On 27th July, 2024, an X user shared a video with a caption “BREAKING NEWS: END HARDSHIP PROTEST OFFICIALLY STARTED IN SOME STATES”.

Over one hundred thousand users have watched the video, over eight hundred users have reposted it and close to two thousand users have liked it by 28th July, 2024. 

In the video, the protesters carry placards with different descriptions like “End Nigeria hardship”, Tinubu Goooooo”, “Tinubu, it’s not by force”, etc.

They were heard singing a solidarity song “we no go tire”. 

Some of the protesters are shouting “we will continue to do it everyday”, “the pressure is too much”, 

Others in Yoruba Language are shouting “we are hungry”, “You want to kill us”.

The video has been celebrating mixed reactions from X users. 

Hon Kunle said Real “Nigerians don’t need to be mobilised to hit the street. Things I love to see”. 

Lifeissues11 said “That’s what am saying, don’t wait for the 1st. U take dem unawares and start early”.

However, another X user De’OtunbaGCFR1 said “old video’

Also another X user Global C-in-C said “You’re right. Is old because it was yesterday”.

Verification

The researcher conducted a Google Reverse Image search on some of the pictures in the video, it was discovered that the video had been on YouTube 19th February,  2024 during a protest by some youths in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital. 

Also, some reputable media outlets  Channels, Leadership, Punch, and New Telegraph reported that there was a protest against the economic hardship in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital on 19th February, 2024. 

Conclusion

Findings revealed that a viral video of a protest against economic hardship is not new. It has been on YouTube in February, 2024. The claim is MISLEADING.

The researcher produced this fact-check to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country