FACT CHECK: Derogatory post on Igbo, Hausa credited to Malami is fake

You might have come across a derogatory post on instant messaging platforms credited to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF). The post, containing ethnic slurs, was alleged to have been posted by Malami on Twitter, a microblogging platform.

The post, inscribed in an image, contains 427 words that exalted an ethnic group while describing other groups with uncouth remarks.

The post reads: “Igbos are stupid and unruly. They are the problem in this country. The Hausa recognizes their position as conquered slaves. They recognize the supremacy of the Fulani. The Hausas are happy being our slaves and we treat them well. The Hausa will not seek to sit on the same table with their masters. They will not demand to be in government. They know it is Haram. The kobokobo Igbos will not take their place as the conquered slaves they are. They refuse Fulani grazing on their land.”

The post said members of an ethnic group are special breeds that must be served “which is why Nnamdi Kanu must die”.

“He challenged a power greater than his tribe. He challenged an authority established by Allah. We poisoned his parents to send a warning across to him but he refused to listen. He has received his own dose. He will rot from inside and die very painfully. He cannot reason well again. The Judge will keep adjourning his case for him to have a good taste of a painful death. This is a lesson to you Igbo people,” the image read.

Some internet users have criticised the post, calling for renewed support for the Biafra struggle.

Chiamaka Chukwuma, a Facebook user, said the post is a call for liberation.

“If this write up is true, Biafra youths this is our mission to liberate our people. To all the one Nigerians who thinks the Fulanis don’t know what they are doing, watch for yourself. We must get Biafra!!!” she wrote.

Onyebuchi Jacob, another internet user, wrote: “That is the reason why every Igbo man and woman must support ESN and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to restore Biafra, now or die as a slave.”

SORTING FACTS FROM FICTION: DID MALAMI AUTHOR THE POST?

Checks by TheCable revealed that the post is not written by Malami. This is based on several reasons.

First, it is unclear if the post was from Twitter, Facebook or a specific social media platform. The blue verification sign attached to Malami’s name in the viral image brings to mind Twitter, a platform where blue badges are provided for verified accounts.

To begin with, the minister deactivated his Twitter account on June 8 after the federal government announced the suspension of the platform in Nigeria. Searches made on the microblogging site and search engines show no evidence that such a post was made by the minister.

Also, Twitter has a word limit of 280 characters. This is at least eight times less than the 2,381 characters in the post.

Secondly, Malami has a verified Facebook page with the same picture and blue badge in the post, but TheCable did not find the post on the minister’s page. The AGF has not shared any post on Facebook in July. In June, Malami shared only three posts on Facebook, which are unrelated to the content of the post in question.

Thirdly, the post is laced with grammatical errors which give it away as a fake document and not one expected of a minister of justice.

The post reads: “The Fulani’s are the Special breed ordained by Allah to be served.” “Fulani’s” means “Fulani is…” or used in form of possession. This should have been “Fulanis” which would go with the “are” used as its verb.

In addition, the claim that Britain has granted approval for the death of Kanu is also false, considering the fact that there is no evidence that such order was issued by the British government.

The British High Commission said it is “in the process of seeking clarification” from the federal government regarding Kanu’s arrest.

VERDICT: There is no evidence to show that Malami wrote or shared the content of the viral image. The image was photoshopped. The information can best be described as fake news.