Fake pictures circulating on social media which users are falsely claiming depict inter-communal violence are inflaming already high tensions in Nigeria.

It comes after three days of violence left more than 200 people dead in the centre of the country.

A gruesome image of a woman face down in a pool of blood with a gaping shoulder wound is purported to be from the recent attacks. It has hundreds of retweets on Twitter, but it first appeared on the internet in 2011 in a story about domestic violence in Nigeria.

Another image appears to show half a dozen people that were killed in the attacks. On closer inspection it becomes clear that the picture was not taken in Nigeria, and is actually the scene of a 2015 traffic accident in the Dominican Republic.

They are both too graphic for us to display and were accompanied by highly inflammatory comments.

And it's not just pictures.

Earlier this week, major Nigerian news outlets ran a story claiming that Danladi Circoma, a leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, said the attacks in Plateau were revenge for the loss of 300 cows .

"Since these cows were not found, no-one should expect peace in the areas," Mr Circoma is reported to have said.

His comments drew widespread anger and swift condemnation, but he has denied ever making the statement.

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What is fake news?
Completely false information, photos or videos purposefully created and spread to confuse or misinform
Information, photos or videos manipulated to deceive - or old photographs shared as new
Satire or parody which means no harm but can fool people
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Misinformation and fake news in Nigeria is nothing new.

In some cases, the lack of official information has created a vacuum which has been filled by rumours. This only serves to escalate tensions further.

Image copyright AFP Burnt-out car in Plateau state
Image caption The most recent violence has been in Plateau state
The explosion of social media - Nigeria has 26 million active Facebook users - and the rapid growth of smartphones means rumour spread quickly and easily on social media.

In January, the presidency denounced a fake Twitter account which appeared to justify herdsmen attack s in Benue state to the anger of the public.

A month later, a letter alerting the public to an apparent attack by herders on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major route in the country's south-west, went viral before the police issued a statement to deny it.

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As criticism of the government's handling of the crisis grows , there are fears that fake news could result in further violence.

Last year, Information Minister Lai Mohammed spoke repeatedly about the danger of fake news, warning that it could "threaten and destroy" the country.

How to spot fake news
It is likely that more fake news stories will surface about the crisis, particularly in the run-up to next year's presidential election. Social media companies like Facebook and Twitter have revealed plans to fight the global problem of fake news, but here are five ways you can stop the spread of misinformation:

Check the source : Fake social media accounts often try to appear as if they are from legitimate news sites, so check that every account you share information from is genuine. Verified accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have a blue tick.
Look at multiple sources : Although this isn't foolproof, it's nonetheless worth checking multiple reputable new sources when trying to verify if what you're seeing is real. Ask yourself: Are trusted news outlets also reporting this information?
Verification tools: There are dozens of tools online that can help determine the authenticity of a picture or a video. Google, Bing and Tin Eye all offer a reverse image search, which can tell you where images have been used before. Video verification is more tricky, but tools like InVid allow you to select video from Facebook and YouTube to see if or where these videos have been used before.
Check metadata : If you have an original video or picture, you can check the metadata which will give you a wealth of information, including where and when the image or video was taken plus the device make and model. Unfortunately, when images and videos are uploaded to social media platforms their metadata is stripped out.
Think before you post : It sounds obvious, but be careful not to add to the problem of fake news. Before you post, ask yourself if you're sure the information you're about to post is real.
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-africa-44655148?__twitter_impression=true

BBC has being paid in full. Isallright.

D fact. Still remain, people wia killed

When did BBC become this 'concerned'?

freeze001:
When did BBC become this 'concerned'?

They have been for awhile. I heard them talking sbout crisis on radio on NPR when the Benue murders happened. Besides they report on Nigerian affairs to point the have BBC Hausa, Igbo, Pigeon and Yoruba.

God bless BBC for this investigative journalism.



IPOB's will not like this.

BBC has declared what side it's on

They get lazy so they don't read past head. Nobody here even addressed points they raised. Pictures are known to be recycled and one journalists did release fake story. BBC didnt say the nobody died. The reported on herdsmen murder all tge time but people love their conspiracy theories.

Almaiga:
God bless BBC for this investigative journalism.



IPOB's will not like this.

Shildren of hate would not like this; they will now be insulting BBC and claiming that it has joined the Jihad to Islamise Nigeria.

Throughout the world muslims come to kill to steal and to destroy. Fulani represents the Islamic seal of evil in Nigeria.

By thr comments of Nigerian muslims you can understand the evil they are made up of.

They are scavengers. They will not stay in their land but will travel out to steal and kill.

Muslims need their own country.

The rate at which fake news are being circulated by today southern base Christian dominated media is mindboggling.
With these news media like premium times and vanguard being managed by hate filled people like that Nnanna Ocheoroyonra (whatever be the spelling of his name)

Yet, Christians and spiteful pastors, like Oyedepo of winners, who are busy inciting their gullible congregation and spreading hate against Muslims and Islam, forget that when the war comes the police security he enjoys will not be enough to protect people like him then who are really part of the society problem.

BBC Hausa welldone, we know where your interests lies in your continued satanic influence in your prized lugardian creation.

I saw a video currently being circulated by Christian churches among its members as video of Fulanis killing Christians in plateau.

I later found out that the incident didn't happen in Nigeria but in the CAR.
I ask myself what do they intend to achieve with this false incitement?
The demonisation of Islam most likely.

They may succeed but not before another Rwanda would have descended upon us.

The root cause is the foundation the British govt laid in Nigeria by promoting the backward-thinking Fulanis into a higher human 'species' in the Nigerian project hence handling the country to the fulanis in order to use them as a willing tool to milk the Nigeria's resources completely dry.

We usually fail to realize, or completely ignore, the role of the British in the unending national crisis. Buhari (a jihadist) is a good friend of the currentl archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican church in the UK and all the British Commonwealth. The British govt even hosted Buhari to a royal banquet dinner because, to the British govt, he is doing so well by their standard.

Until the South/middle-belt come together and negotiate with another world power, like Russia, for their own future, the British will forever keep using the Fulanis to destroy the country and its people. Black live does not matter to the British people, Nigeria is a giant and profitable British factory.

true2god:
The root cause is the foundation the British govt laid in Nigeria by promoting the backward-thinking Fulanis into a higher human 'species' in the Nigerian project hence handling the country to the fulanis in order to use them as a willing tool to milk the Nigeria's resources completely dry.

We usually fail to realize, or completely ignore, the role of the British in the unending national crisis. Buhari (a jihadist) is a good friend of the currentl archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican church in the UK and all the British Commonwealth. The British govt even hosted Buhari to a royal banquet dinner because, to the British govt, he is doing so well by their standard.

Until the South/middle-belt come together and negotiate with another world power, like Russia, for their own future, the British will forever keep using the Fulanis to destroy the country and its people. Black live does not matter to the British people, Nigeria is a giant and profitable British factory.

When re you going to stop blaming Hausa Fulani for ur failures.
You blame them for ur economic problems
blame them for ur political problems
Even ur own electoral failures you blame them.

Recently, it was revealed how SE senators turned a blind eye as funding for sensitive projects in their region were reduced.
Unfortunately for the senators this time, efforts to blame this case of ineptitude on northern politicians has failed as people in the SE see this just as it is.

I will not be surprise if you blame Hausa Fulani for ur inability to impregnate ur wife

BiafranJesus:
Throughout the world muslims come to kill to steal and to destroy. Fulani represents the Islamic seal of evil in Nigeria.

By thr comments of Nigerian muslims you can understand the evil they are made up of.

They are scavengers. They will not stay in their land but will travel out to steal and kill.

Muslims need their own country.

We all know who the children of HATE are in Nigeria

Igbos and their own brand of hate does not end with north or Islam, it even extends as far as the south west. You people hate everything and everyone in sight except ursefs.
I imagine ur pained bitter face

BBC AND ITS FAKE NEWS NOT YET OVER, AFTER PEDDLING THAT FAMINE AND DROUGHT WAS WHAT KILLED BIAFRAN DURING THE CIVIL WAR SINCE THEN I FEAR THEM, BBC FAKE NEWS THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING TO DEFEND THEIR CONTRAPTION


U can never see them report the reality on ground in Nigeria rather than lies

NOETHNICITY:
The rate at which fake news are being circulated by today southern base Christian dominated media is mindboggling.
With these news media like premium times and vanguard being managed by hate filled people like that Nnanna Ocheoroyonra (whatever be the spelling of his name)

Yet, Christians and spiteful pastors, like Oyedepo of winners, who are busy inciting their gullible congregation and spreading hate against Muslims and Islam, forget that when the war comes the police security he enjoys will not be enough to protect people like him then who are really part of the society problem.

Islamic demon.

Nigeriabiafra80:
BBC AND ITS FAKE NEWS NOT YET OVER, AFTER PEDDLING THAT FAMINE AND DROUGHT WAS WHAT KILLED BIAFRAN DURING THE CIVIL WAR SINCE THEN I FEAR THEM, BBC FAKE NEWS THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING TO DEFEND THEIR CONTRAPTION


U can never see them report the reality on ground in Nigeria rather than lies

Maybe the British weapons used by the Nigerians against the Biafrans created the 'civil-war' drought in Biafraland. The most brutal power is the British people. People who have no emotion and can say anything to defend their genocidal actions and the tendencies.