An image of Nigerian singing duo Peter and Paul Okoye, better known as P-Square, wearing hoodies with the flag of Biafra has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside a call for them to be arrested. But AFP Fact Check found that the image has been altered to promote the secessionist movement. In the original image, the two are not wearing the colours of Biafra.
The image was posted on Facebook alongside a caption calling for the brothers to be arrested.
“Nigerian government supposed to Lock this guy’s up the same way kalu is been locked up… They are distracting the peace of this country by promoting a terrorist organization call Biafra (sic),” the caption reads in part.
Rising sun controversy
The Biafra flag, a horizontal tricolour of red, black and green, has existed since the late 1960s, when it was used by the Republic of Biafra in its bid to secede from Nigeria.
The flag also features a golden yellow semi-circle to represent the rising sun with 11 rays on its edges. This depicts the 11 provinces of Biafra.
Security forces have arrested celebrities for wearing clothes in support of Biafra. In October 2021, Nigeria’s secret police DSS arrested Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu for wearing an outfit with the Biafran flag on it. He was released four days after his arrest.
Since Agu’s arrest, images of other Nigerian celebrities have been altered to show them in Biafran colours, like P-Square.
P-Square reunion
AFP Fact Check ran multiple reverse image searches and found that the original image of the brothers was posted to social media by P-Square on November 27, 2021. In it, they are wearing plain grey sweaters and jeans. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy AFP)
