Claim
A viral social media video, notably circulated on Native Reporters’ Facebook Page, puts forward a claim which we have now fact-checked and come out with important things you should know about that video.
The video contains a branded vehicle showing a campaign poster of the APC, with holes in the door on the driver’s side. The publisher of the content on Facebook claims the holes are bullet holes.
This claim is increasingly circulating online, showing up here, here and here.
The post on Native Reporters has garnered over 51k views, with 452 comments, 609 likes and counting.
Why We Checked
In the highly sensitive window preceding a major election, unverified reports of armed attacks can incite voter panic, suppress turnout, and trigger retaliatory political violence. Because the viral video is being presented as absolute proof of a targeted ambush, Halt Fake conducted a rigorous analysis to separate visible, verifiable facts from speculative assumptions.
Verification
To establish the facts, Halt Fake subjected the viral footage to systematic audio-visual analysis and cross-referenced it with official institutional responses:
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- Contradictory Scene Narrations: A detailed review of the audio track in the viral video shows that the accounts provided by individuals at the scene do not follow a logical or consistent sequence. At one interval, a narrator states, “This is where they sat when they came and sprayed the vehicle,” implying the vehicle was stationary and parked when targeted. However, moments later, the narrative shifts, claiming that “as they were coming, they shot them,” describing a moving ambush. These conflicting statements fail to establish a reliable chain of events.
- Ambiguity of Physical Marks: While the video displays perforations on the panels of a green campaign bus, the footage alone does not provide sufficient, high-resolution forensic context to conclusively determine the precise timeline, instrument, or manner of the damage. Without independent ballistic verification, it is impossible to determine if the markings resulted from an active, high-speed ambush or separate, controlled conditions. Can someone aim at a moving vehicle so precisely? Are some bullets smaller than some?
These are questions people need to ask before they conclude on the authenticity of the video.
- Absence of other signs of an attack: A look at the image showing the inner part of the vehicle showed there were no signs of blood from any injury. According to a voice in the video, the driver is at the hospital.
- Absence of Official Police Confirmation: As of the time of this report, the Osun State Police Command has not issued an official press release or formal statement validating the details of the alleged shooting. No independent law enforcement authority has confirmed an investigation into an active ambush, injuries, or the apprehension of suspects related to this specific footage.
- Mainstream Media Restraint: While localized political blogs and forums like Gistlover and Native Reporters widely shared the claim, credible national media outlets has taken caution in reporting such news.
- No Independent Verification: Trustworthy independent media and security authorities noted that details of the event and the supposed attack itself relied heavily on circulating social media videos, partisan accounts, or statements from the campaign camp, with little to no independent confirmation.
- No Official APC Statement On The Matter: An attack of such could have made it to the social network pages of the APC. But there is no publication reporting such claim on the pages of the APC.
Screenshot from video showing the inner part of the vehicle.
Verdict
UNPROVEN.
The claim that the Osun APC campaign convoy survived a targeted assassination attempt is unverified.
While video footage shows a campaign vehicle with structural damage, the eyewitness narrations within the video are highly contradictory, and there is no physical or forensic evidence to conclusively prove how or when the damage occurred. The relevant security authorities have not issued an official statement confirming the incident and no credible or mainstream media organisation has reported such an attack.
Conclusion
Halt Fake advises members of the public to separate visible media facts from partisan assumptions.
An unclear video with inconsistent background commentary cannot be used to draw a definitive conclusion.
Until relevant security and law enforcement authorities release an official statement regarding their field findings, the responsible position is to state that the exact circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting remain entirely unclear.
