Verdict: Misleading
Claim:
On 5th October 2024, Tantancewa fact-checkers spotted a viral 52-second video
circulating on WhatsApp with the caption, “Niger State, 300 on board, 10 saved, 60
dead, and many unaccounted for”. According to the claim the video originated from
the recent boat capsizing involving victims preparing to attend the 2024 Maulud
celebration.
In the background of the viral video, numerous voices and cries for help could be
heard. Although the language used was Swahili Congo a local dialect, the team was
able to translate the pleas for help, which included cries like, “Jesus should help them”
This was a desperate call from those on the wrecked boat, while a nearby boat was
recording the incident as it unfolded.
Fact:
Tantancewa fact checkers carried out a research to authenticate the viral video circulating on WhatsApp and the findings showed that the video in circulation is false and misleading.
Using Google reverse image search, the investigation showed that the video first surfaced online on 3rd October 2024. While the video does depict a boat wreck in the middle of an ocean, it is not related to the recent boat capsizing in Niger State, Nigeria, as claimed in the viral post.
To verify the claim, Tantancewa fact-checkers translated the background voices in the video and identified the language as Swahili Congo, a native dialect of DR Congo. Fact checkers at tantancewa also contacted Esdras Tsongo, a resident of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who confirmed that the video was recorded at Lake Kivu. To aid our research, Esdras also provided a press statement released by the government, which is shared below.
According to statement, “the event took place exactly in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Lake Kivu on October 3rd , 2024. The boat which was from Minova, capsized, resulting in 23 deaths and 58 survivors with several people missing according to the government, as of October 9th, the search for bodies continues”. Although the press statement was written in french, we were however able to translate the statement which could be seen below.
To further verify the claim, Tantancewa fact-checkers conducted a Google search on the boat wreck that occurred in Niger State on Wednesday, 2nd October 2024. The boat which was traveling from Mundi to Gbajibo for the annual Maulud Celebration was carrying approximately 300 people, mostly women and children. The boat was also entirely different from the one circulating, attached below is the picture of Niger boat before it collapse. It was also noted that least 150 people were rescued from the scene, and 25 bodies were recovered, with others still missing.
Finally, Tantancewa is urging the general public to verify the authenticity of any claim before sharing it. The viral video circulating on WhatsApp did not occur in Nigeria but in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at Lake Kivu, on 3rd October 2024, a day after the Niger boat disaster.
Conclusion:
The viral video circulating on WhatsApp, claiming the aftermath of the recent Niger State boat tragedy is false and misleading.
Tantancewa fact-checkers discovered that the video did not occur in Niger state, Nigeria but actually depicts a boat wreck in Lake Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, on 3rd October 2024, unrelated to the incident in Niger State. The boat disaster that occurred in DR Congo, results in 23 deaths and 58 survivors, with ongoing efforts to recover missing persons. Whereas the Niger State boat tragedy, which happened on 2nd October 2024, involved a different incident with at least 150 people rescued and 25 bodies recovered.
Tantancewa is urging the public is please disregard the video and avoid sharing it.
You can send or forward your claims for fact checking at tantancewa@citad.org
Join us to combat the effects of fakenews
#StopFakeNews #StopDisinformation
Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)