The media space, especially social media platforms, was inundated with claims that the current spread of monkeypox was linked to at least, four United States biological laboratories in Nigeria.

Monkeypox in 2022 was first found on May 6 in the United Kingdom in a person with travel ties to Nigeria, which was where the initial cluster of cases was found. Monkeypox has never before spread so widely elsewhere since it was first discovered in Central and West Africa in 1970.

From May 18, cases were reported from an increasing number of countries and regions, predominantly in Europe and North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

As cases began popping up in different countries, so did unverifiable claims linking the monkeypox outbreak to it being manufactured in biological labs.

In a widely reported press statement, Nigeria became a target after the Russian government alleged that monkeypox was biologically made from, at least, four U.S.-controlled biological laboratories in the country.

At least, 60,000 confirmed cases have been reported from more than 100 countries and territories since the start of 2022.

Background

Three weeks after the first reported case in Europe, the Russian government claimed that the new spread of monkeypox was linked to, at least, four U.S.-controlled biological laboratories in Nigeria.

The report linking biolabs in Nigeria to the spread of monkeypox was released during a Russian Defense Ministry press briefing by Chief of Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Force, Igor Kirillov, titled, ‘Briefing on the results of the analysis of documents related to the military biological activities of the United States on Ukrainian territory.’

During the briefing, Kirillov claimed that the U.S. operated, at least, four biological laboratories in Nigeria and linked the current monkeypox outbreak in Europe to the alleged US-funded biolabs (US-financed facilities) in Abuja, Zaria, and Lagos.

He said, “According to the WHO report, the introduction of the West African strain of the causative agent of monkeypox originated in Nigeria, another state where the United States has placed its biological infrastructure.

“According to available information, there are, at least, four biological laboratories controlled by Washington in Nigeria.”

The report made headlines on social media platforms and some media houses in Nigeria, India, Iran, Russia and Europe.

It was also shared on Twitter by pro-Russian accounts.

Two tweets were shared by AZ OSINT (@AZmilitary1), a Twitter user, on Friday, May 27, immediately after the Russian government made the announcement.

The first tweet, 1:43 pm, read, “☣️�Smallpox of monkeys was brought from Nigeria, where, at least, four biolabs of the United States work, said Igor Kirillov, head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation�☣️”

The second tweet was a collage of images purportedly proving the existence of US-sponsored bio-laboratories in Nigeria, possibly linked to the recent monkeypox outbreak.

AZ OSINT tweets, which have now been deleted, are archived here.

“Russia Ministry of Defense published photos as evidence of the existence of bio-laboratories in Nigeria (they have released more material we hope to have time to translate it for you), related to monkey smallpox spreading. Currently, there are 4 ��biolabs in ���”

The Twitter user shared a link to a Telegram post in the second linked tweet. The channel, иноорон оccии, is validated by Russia’s Defense Ministry’s verified Twitter handle (Ministry of Defense of Russia).

The post on Twitter and Telegram elicited responses indicating that some believed the claims were true.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/factcheck-us-funded-labs-in-nigeria-led-to-monkeypox-outbreak/

So what is your final take. True or false.



But the truth is that the western world have been using us as Guinea pigs for years. From HIV to covid to that one that we bath with salt