Claim: A viral video alleges that Igbos are being denied land by the Government of the Benin Republic.

Verdict: False — The claim that Igbos are being denied land in Benin Republic is misleading. The issue stems from the enforcement of national land laws, not ethnic discrimination.

Full Story

On January 27, 2026, an X-user, @Alkaneseries, shared a 34-second video showing security personnel guarding a large expanse of land. The area was barricaded with movable iron fencing marked “POLICE REPUBLICAINE”, suggesting the location was in Benin Republic.

The video included a voice-over referencing an earlier clip that purportedly showed Igbo individuals clearing the bushy land. The narrator claimed:

“All the Ibos here in the Benin Republic were clearing the bush massively…So after clearing all these places, they (Benin government) now use the police to just block everywhere.”

The commentary further appealed to viewers’ emotions, questioning why the Igbo ethnic group was allegedly subjected to such treatment. See the screenshot of the video below:

At the time of verification, the video had gained traction with 24,400 views, 254 likes, and 71 comments. Many reactions in the comment section expressed hostility toward Igbos, portraying them as opportunists driven by “greed and obsession for material expansion.”

Examples of reactions include:

• @_iamAdemola_D: “At this level, I’m forced to believe these guys have an agenda but it won’t work out well for them. I don’t understand how a particular tribe can be this bold in causing mayhem anywhere they’re accommodated.”
• @AlaniAdekunle01: “Most of these Ibo people are mad people that need urgent attention. Can you imagine the audacity.”
• @Scarcit15105334: “When you are done deceiving your owomida (where-is-my-money) mentality u rest!”
• @stagurd1: “You can’t clear a huge space like that without going through constituted authorities. Hate would kill you.”

For context, tensions between locals in Benin Republic and Nigerian traders of Igbo origin have previously surfaced, particularly over the demolition of a market allegedly called “Biafra Market”. This raised questions about whether the current video was linked to those disputes.

Verification

NDRFact conducted a reverse image search and traced the original video to TikTok. An earlier clip also showed individuals clearing a portion of land.

Further investigation led to Biyora Online TV’s Facebook page, which clarified that the land in question was a protected reserve. Nigerian citizens had begun clearing it without notifying or obtaining permission from relevant authorities. The government responded by barricading the site to halt the unauthorized activity.

A review of Benin Republic’s Land Use Policy revealed that land access is complicated by “legal dualism” between state-guaranteed titles and customary tenure. Research by Sèdagban Hygin F. Kakai (2012) noted that this dualism often creates difficulties in land policy implementation.

Additionally, the Land Code of 2013 (Law 2013-01) prohibits outright land ownership by foreign entities, allowing only long-term leases. This was reaffirmed by a United Nations Trade and Development report. The law was later amended by Law 2017-15, which centralises land management and requires the formalisation of customary rights through the National Agency for Estate and Land.

Conclusion

Available evidence shows no targeted denial of land to Igbos in Benin Republic. The incident in the viral video involved unauthorised clearing of a protected reserve, prompting government intervention.

Benin Republic’s land policies prohibit outright foreign ownership and regulate access through formal leases and state oversight. These rules apply universally and are not directed at any specific ethnic group.

Verdict: False — The claim that Igbos are being denied land in Benin Republic is misleading. The issue stems from the enforcement of national land laws, not ethnic discrimination.

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