Claim
An X user posted photo of man and attributed him as Nigerian arrested with fraudulent documents.
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING. Checks indicates that the image of the man first surfaced on X in April 2024. While the other photo showing documents appeared in 2022.
Full Text
In August, an X user, @Patriot_S_A shared two photos of an unidentified man and image of documents, the user claimed the man was a Nigerian arrested with fraudulent South African documents in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
The user wrote, “BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian criminal apprehended with fraudulent South African documents in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
The post on August 23, 2024, gamered over 593k views, 1,953k and more than 6k likes on X.
Recently, the rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa took a new turn, with Nigerians waking up to see South Africa trending on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The latest clash involves ride-hailing service, Bolt, some South Africans reportedly ordered and canceled rides in Nigeria to frustrate drivers.
Verification
When the first photo of the man was subjected to Google image reverse search, results showed that this image was first shared by this same X user @Patriot_S_A in April 2924.
In the post he shared on April 22, @Patriot_S_A wrote, “A Zimbabwean male was arrested by JMPD officers for discharging of a firearm in a public area & possession of a firearm whilst under the influence of alcohol.
On the second photo showing documents, this Fact Checker used Google lens trace the image to news publications dated April 14, 2022.
According to the reports, Gauteng police pounced on an unwary Zimbabwean who was busily fabricating various documents at his Hillbrow flat, IDs, drivers’ licenses, bank cards, Sassa cards, and travel documents.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela, officers were conducting Operation Okae Molao in the Johannesburg CBD when they received information about a Zimbabwean national selling various documents from his residence.
Conclusion
The photos shared by X user, @Patriot_S_A are unrelated to the claim he made.
Credit: FactWatch
