A photo of the All Progressives Congress vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima allegedly eating with Boko Haram terrorists has been circulating online.
The picture shows the former governor of Borno State sitting and eating on a mat with five men whose appearance resembled that of Fulani herdsmen.
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Verification
An analysis of the photo using Google reverse image search, showed that it has been on the internet since November 2017.
The picture has generated several reactions purporting that Shettima was dining with Boko Haram terrorists who have ravaged the Northeastern part of Nigeria, killing thousands of citizens.
Recall that the presidential candidate of the APC in the forth coming general elections, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had nominated Shettima to be his running mate.
Denial
Also in circulation is a statement by an alleged former aide to the Senator, I. A Ningi, explaining that the image was shot when the governor had a meeting with some nomadic (Mbororo) Fulani parents in Borno.
Backing Shettima, the former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district, Shehu Sani, said linking Shettima with Boko Haram was mischief.
“Those who are aggrieved over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling party have the constitutional right to express their objections.
“However, the remarks that trailed the ticket, including insinuations and allegations linking Shettima to the formation, growth and deadly destruction by the Boko Haram group is condemnable and mischievous,” Sani said in a statement.
Fingers pointed at Shettima
Sometime in 2012, the escapee suspected Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, who was re-arrested by the Department of State Service, in the early hours of Friday at an emerging Boko Haram cell in a remote village in Taraba State, was reportedly initially arrested at the Borno State Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, alongside a serving military officer.
Sokoto was arrested with some members of his terrorist group after a gun battle with law enforcement operatives who raided the sect’s budding training camp in Taraba.
Conclusion
Despite several reports and reactions, linking Shettima to the activities of Boko Haram while he was Borno State governor, none of the allegations has been proved.
Hence, there is no sufficient evidence to back the claim that the Senator was dining with alleged Boko Haram members as depicted in the viral photo.
This fact check was done in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
