A video has circulated online claiming that Finnish President Alexander Stubb pledged support for Biafra, a separatist region in Nigeria, amid ongoing tensions regarding independence movements. This claim gained traction following the recent arrest of Simon Ekpa, a leader associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been accused of inciting violence through social media from Finland.
Claim
The claim asserts that President Stubb publicly declared support for the Biafran cause, suggesting an endorsement of the separatist movement. This assertion is misleading as it misrepresents the context of his statements.
Fact
Investigations reveal that the video circulating on social media misinterprets President Stubb’s remarks, which were actually directed at Ukraine and not Biafra. The original footage was taken from a different context and manipulated to imply support for Biafra.
This fact is corroborated by multiple credible sources:
- AFP Fact Check
- BBC
- Reuters
Conclusion
This fact check is categorized as Misleading Content, as it presents factual information in a way that distorts the original context of President Stubb’s statements, leading to a false impression of support for the Biafran separatist movement.