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Human rights

Viral Video Misidentifies Protest in Nigeria, Actually Shot in Kenya

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A viral video being shared on social media claims to show a protest organized by Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore in Abuja, Nigeria, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. However, Africa Check has discovered that the video is actually from Kenya and shows a different event altogether. The video, which was shot in October 2025, shows a large crowd of people running on the expressway as a helicopter hovers above them, with a signpost indicating that the video was shot near the office of The Standard Group Plc, a multimedia company in Kenya. The original caption of the video mentioned the death of Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, who passed away in India on 15 October 2025. Thousands of mourners walked to the airport to pay tribute to him, and the video likely shows crowds of Kenyans paying tribute to the late Odinga.

Key Takeaways:

  • The viral video does not show a protest in Nigeria, but is actually from Kenya.
  • The video was shot in October 2025, near the office of The Standard Group Plc in Kenya.
  • The original caption of the video mentioned the death of Raila Odinga, a Kenyan politician who passed away in India on 15 October 2025.
  • The video shows a large crowd of people running on the expressway as a helicopter hovers above them.
  • The video was shared on social media with the claim that it shows a protest organized by Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore in Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Sowore organized a protest in Abuja on 20 October 2025, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
  • Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), a separatist group seeking to establish the Republic of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria.
  • Kanu has been in custody since June 2021, when he was re-arrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria to continue his trial.

Statistics:

  • 20 October 2025: Omoyele Sowore organized a protest in Abuja, Nigeria, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
  • 15 October 2025: Raila Odinga, a Kenyan politician, passed away in India.
  • 16 October 2025: Thousands of mourners walked to the airport in Kenya to pay tribute to Odinga.
  • 2023: Omoyele Sowore ran for president in Nigeria's presidential election on the African Action Congress ticket.
  • 2015: Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
  • 2021: Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria to continue his trial.

Sources:

  • Africa Check, "Viral video doesn't show protest in Nigeria for Nnamdi Kanu's release but is from Kenya"
  • AllAfrica Global Media, "Viral Video Misidentifies Protest in Nigeria, Actually Shot in Kenya"
  • The Standard Group Plc, "The Standard Group Plc"
  • Google, "The Standard Group Plc"

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