A video shared by X user, @dangbanamanager and reposted by a popular account that shares trending news on the platform, @TrendingEx claims that an Imam ordered the flogging of a female student in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly drinking beer at a party.
@TrendingEx reposted the video with the caption, ‘Trending Video: Imam orders the flogging of a female student who was caught drinking beer at party, in Ilorin.’ The post has garnered over 8,000 views as of December 28, 2024 with 47 comments, 39 reposts and quotes, 77 likes and 38 bookmarks.
The post has fueled widespread criticism in the wake of an ongoing debate and callouts on X about plans to establish a Sharia based law court in Oyo state, the southwest part of Nigeria.
This same 30 seconds footage was also shared by @chiditweets042 on X and reposted by @drpenking on the same day.
VERIFICATION
A screenshot of the video was put through reverse image search where NV-A traced the origin of the video to a British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC report published on October 11, 2021 detailing an incident at a Quranic school in Ganmo, Kwara State.
According to the BBC report, the 2021 video showed students at a Quranic school being severely punished. But, the punishment was carried out by fellow students under the instruction of their teacher.
In one of the videos that trended in 2021, a female student was beaten by four young men with stick-like objects while onlookers watched. BBC reported that the father personally approved the punishment, citing adherence to the school’s disciplinary measures. Also, the school defended its actions, stating that the punishments complied with Islamic law and were carried out with parental consent.
However, local authorities condemned the beatings and launched an investigation, despite the parents’ approval. In the aftermath of the incident, the affected students received medical care, and the head of the school was suspended.
A Pulse Nigeria report identified the islamic school as Musbaudeen Al Islamy Arabic School, Ganmo in Ifelodun Local government area of Kwara State and corroborated details in the report published by the BBC.
CONCLUSION
The claim that an Imam recently ordered the flogging of a female student for drinking beer is MISLEADING. The circulating post misrepresents a 2021 incident reported by the BBC and Pulse Nigeria.
