Several audio messages circulating on WhatsApp, a messaging platform, are claiming that cursed rice grains, imported from one of Nigeria’s West African neighbours, are killing residents in Lagos and Ogun states.
In the three audio clips FIJ reviewed on Wednesday, the speakers claim that the cursed rice grains originated from a woman whose trailer of rice was stolen.
They claim that the owner of the trailer, an unidentified woman, had gone to Ghana to consult a deity, and stated that anyone who stole her trailers of rice or bought from them must die.
The audio clips, which have varying lengths, also include claims that 28 people had died in Badagry, including six officers of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
Overall, they warned Nigerians not to buy new stock of rice because the cursed food item had flooded the market..
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“It is true. 28 people have died in Badagry, including 6 customs officers,” one of the voice notes addressed to a certain Big Fish reads.
“At Seme, people are dying anyhow. The rice on the stalls now, no one is buying it. It is the previous stock that people are buying. I am not lying to you. Everybody here knows.
“The importation of rice has been suspended. Four other customs officers have also died in Gbaji and Seme.
“People are dying anyhow. They said the woman went to consult an idol in Ghana after one trailer was stolen, and that’s what caused it. Nobody should buy rice. She said anyone who eats it will die, and many already have. People should only cook what they have at home.”
Another audio message delivered by a masculine voice urged the recipients to deliver the message as quickly and widely as possible.
The sender stated that the stolen trailers were taken to Owode, Ogun State and Seme in Lagos.
“Something is happening at the moment. We should save lives. This issue is about rice. Tell people, everyone that you know, post it on your status. Nobody should buy rice at the moment to eat,” the male voice said.
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“Send it to everyone and save lives. Anyone who hears this should send it. What happened with the rice is that they went to steal two trailers of rice. They took one to Idiroko and Owode, both in Ogun State.
This speaker asked everyone to forward the audio as quickly as possible.
“Please let us save lives and share to all the groups. The owner of the rice went to report to a deity. She said anyone who eats the rice will die, and people have started dying. Do not buy rice to eat at this time.
In the last voice FIJ received, another male speaker said he had called someone in Baagry, who confirmed the deaths and asked people to take heed.
The speaker in the audio clip said they had called Badagry.
“I just called Badagry, and it is true. It is very real. I confirmed it myself. Anyone buying rice now should stick to old stock in the neighbourhood and confirm it is the old one. We should not buy rice carelessly,” the speaker added.
CLAIM
At least 30 people, including customs officers, have died from buying and eating cursed rice stock stolen from two trailers.
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VERIFCATION
While verifying this claim, FIJ found that Isah Sulaiman, Customs Public Relations Officer, rejected the claims of deaths and stealing through a statement shared on Sunday.
Sulaiman said that no officers or residents have died due to the consumption of rice in the regions of concern.
“The attention of the NCS, Seme Area Command, has been drawn to a widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that the Command seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner, who then allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry,” Sulaiman stated.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter. It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS.”
FIJ also searched Facebook and X and found no credible reports or obituaries confirming deaths after purchasing rice or from poisoned rice meals.
CONCLUSION
Despite smuggling being a known challenge in the Seme-Badagry axis, as thoroughly exposed by ‘Fisayo Soyombo, FIJ’s editor-in-chief, there was no online activity or local reporting to support the voice note claims.
There is no available evidence to show that anyone has died from eating cursed or poisoned rice in Lagos or Ogun. The voice notes circulating on WhatsApp are false.
VERDICT
There is no proof that many people have died from poisoning as a result of eating cursed rice in Seme or Idiroko.
Credit: FIJ
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