Did 'Biafra Forces' Kill 80 Nigerian Soldiers? Fact Emerges
- Claims have appeared online saying 80 Nigerian soldiers were killed in a recent clash with 'Biafra forces'
- Legit.ng reports that supporters of Biafra continue to press for secession from Nigeria over alleged marginalisation
- Legit.ng checked if there was evidence for the viral claim on the alleged soldiers' killing in Abia state
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 4 years of experience in fact-checking.
Ohafia, Abia state - Claims started circulating on Facebook in December 2024 that 80 Nigerian soldiers were killed while 'clashing' with pro-Biafran forces in Ohafia, Abia state.
Legit.ng reports that Abia is among the southeast states most impacted by pro-Biafra agitators' violence.
Source: Twitter
Claim Biafra fighters killed 80 army personnel lacks evidence
The agitation for Biafra separatism has grown in frequency, intensity and geographical spread during the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
An online post claiming 80 Nigerian soldiers were killed in a clash with 'Biafra forces' reads:
“BREAKING: Heavy Gunfire in Ohafia as Biafra Forces Clash with Nigerian Soldiers.
“Heavy Shooting In Ohafia As Biafra Soldiers Clash With Nigerian Soldiers, 80 Nigerian Soldiers dead so far while Biafra are losing 3 of their soldiers"
The post includes two pictures: an armoured tank in military camouflage and another of a wrecked Nigerian army vehicle with two soldiers.
The claim can also be found here and here.
But is it true that a clash occurred between Nigerian soldiers and Biafra agitators which resulted in 80 soldiers’ deaths? Legit.ng checked.
A Google reverse image search of the first photo revealed that it was posted by the Nigerian army on its official Facebook page in 2019. The second image was traced to a 2014 column titled “Nigeria’s armed forces and the crisis of insurgency”, published by Vanguard newspaper.
These photos do not show a recent clash between the Nigerian soldiers and pro-Biafran forces.
Furthermore, a check on the official website of the Nigerian army and the organisation's social media accounts showed no evidence of the claim.
In the same vein, no reports confirmed a gunfight in Ohafia, with 80 Nigerian soldiers killed.
Read more about Biafra agitation:
- Did DSS release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu? Fact emerges
- "You people are now rich": Nigerian lady displays stash of Biafran pounds hidden by her late grandpa
- Nnamdi Kanu: Court lifts ban on IPOB as terrorist group, fines Tinubu's FG N8 billion
Effect of Biafran war
Earlier, Legit.ng reported about a lady's search for family members of her late father, Philip Ugoji.
According to the lady, Philip fled Nigeria at 11 with his uncle during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war of 1967 to 1970.
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Source: Legit.ng
