Governor Umo Eno
Claim: A viral Facebook post claims that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, approved May 30 as Biafra Remembrance Day and declared himself Igbo.
Full Text
As ethnic and regional narratives continue to shape online conversations in Nigeria, a claim linking Akwa Ibom State to the Biafran movement has circulated widely on social media.
On 16 April 2026, a Facebook page, Bundle tv, shared a post featuring an image of Governor Umo Eno alongside the insignia of the defunct Republic of Biafra.
The caption read: “Breaking News: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has approved May 30 as Biafra Remembrance Day in Akwa Ibom. I am Igbo, and I speak Igbo more fluently than I speak the language of Akwa Ibom. My father fought in the Biafra war too, so this land of Akwa Ibom is truly Biafra”.
Screenshot of the post on Facebook
The post suggests an official endorsement of the Biafran cause and a redefinition of the state’s identity.
As of 19 April 2026, the post had generated over 3,000 reactions, 872 comments, and 391 shares, with users expressing a mix of support, scepticism, and outrage.
The claim can be found here and here.
Given the potential of such claims to mislead the public and inflame tensions, we verified the claim.
Verification
A keyword search shows that the claim is not new. It first circulated in 2025 and has since been recycled online. The old posts can be found here and here.
There is no record of the statement on any credible Nigerian news platform. In earlier reports, Governor Umo Eno had already distanced himself from similar claims.
Checks of official communication channels, including the Akwa Ibom State Government’s website and social media pages, show no announcement approving May 30 as a state-recognised observance.
The biographical claims in the post are also inaccurate. Governor Umo Bassey Eno is from Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and belongs to the Ibibio ethnic group.
There is no credible record of him identifying as Igbo or claiming greater fluency in Igbo than in his native language.
The reference to “Akwa Igbo” is also false. The state is officially known as Akwa Ibom.
Conclusion
The claim that Governor Umo Eno approved May 30 as Biafra Remembrance Day or declared himself Igbo is false.
There is no evidence from official sources or credible media to support the claim.
Akwa Ibom remains a constituent state of Nigeria, and no such declaration has been made.
