FACT CHECK: No, Ghanaians Are Not Destroying Igbo Shops — Viral Video Misrepresents Drug Raid in Accra

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A viral video circulating on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, claims that Ghanaians are destroying shops owned by Igbos. The footage shows a group of people dismantling makeshift shops with sticks and sledgehammers, with a visible placard in the background reading “Don’t huff. Don’t puff. Say no to drugs.”

However, a fact-check investigation by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has confirmed that the video does not depict a targeted attack on Igbo businesses. Instead, it shows a community-led operation in Sabon Zongo, Accra, where locals were demolishing illegal drug dens as part of a crackdown on narcotics abuse in the area.

According to eyewitnesses and local reports, the action was part of a collaborative effort between residents and anti-drug advocacy groups, aimed at flushing out criminal elements involved in drug trafficking. There was no indication that the operation had anything to do with ethnicity, tribal affiliation, or targeted destruction of Igbo-owned properties.

One community member was quoted saying:

“Those places were known hideouts for drug users and peddlers. We took action to clean up the neighborhood—not because of any ethnic group.”

The video, stripped of its original context, has been shared with misleading captions such as “Ghanaians now destroying Igbo shops,” sparking outrage, misinformation, and ethnic tension online. Some users have used the clip to fan the flames of tribal division, despite the lack of evidence supporting the claim.

The Ghanaian authorities have not reported any attacks on Igbo-owned businesses, and no credible news outlet in Ghana or Nigeria has verified the existence of such incidents.

This is yet another example of how misleading content can go viral, especially in a politically or ethnically charged atmosphere. Experts are urging social media users to verify the authenticity of such content before reposting or reacting.

Conclusion:
✅ Claim: Ghanaians are destroying Igbo shops.
🚫 Verdict: False. The video shows a community-led demolition of drug dens in Accra, not an ethnically motivated attack.