Fact-check: Was Police APC Hijacked by Hunger Protesters in Kaduna?

Fact-check: Was Police APC Hijacked by Hunger Protesters in Kaduna?

A video claim making the rounds on social media has it that a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was hijacked by the #EndBadGovernance hunger protesters in Kaduna.

The video generated a lot of controversial and heated debates on social media, with a particular blog, Ladun Liadi also publishing it with the headline: “Hoodlums hijack Police armoured vehicle during hunger protests in Kaduna”.

A National Daily also published the claim, using the headline: “headline: “Rioters Go Haywire In Kaduna, Mount Armoured Tank Of Security Operatives” 

An Armored Personnel Carrier is a type of light armored military vehicle used to transport personnel. It is constructed with ballistic protection to shield security operatives from various firearms.

While tanks are exceedingly armed and built for frontline services, the APC’s main role concerns the protection and swift movement of troops. They serve as a mobile, protected means of delivering security personnel to various strategic locations.

For verification of the claim, PRNigeria fact-check carefully watched the video  and discovered that protesters in their numbers were taking turns to mount  the APC, while someone in a security camouflage with a steady rifle popped up from the top of the vehicle. 

After watching the video, PRNigeria fact-check reached out to the  Force Public Relations Officer,  ACP Muyiwa Adejobi via text message to confirm the authenticity of the claim. But  moments later, he simply and tersely replied “No… NOT TRUE” 

Verifying further, PRNigeria fact-check also reached out to the Kaduna Command Police Public Relations Officer,  ASP Mansur Hassan, via phone call. He  confirmed to us  that it was false and misleading claim.

The Kaduna Command image maker stressed that the video in question depicts a situation where a large group of protesters confronted the driver of the APC. In the face of escalating tension, the driver made a professional and commendable decision to avoid the use of live ammunition. Instead, he employed a tactical maneuver to safely escape the scene, ensuring the safety of both the protesters and the officers involved.

He added that it is important to stress that at no point was the APC hijacked by hoodlums. “The vehicle and its personnel remained under the control of the Kaduna State Police Command throughout the incident”.

Conclusion: Based our findings, we therefore conclude that the claim that protesters hijacked police APC in Kaduna during the #EndBadGovernance protest is false and misleading.

By PRNigeria