CLAIM: Photo shows surgeons performing a surgery with phone torchlights in a Nigerian hospital

VERDICT: Misleading. The photo is from Ghana, and it is about three years old.

FULL STORY

A viral image circulating across social media platforms claims to show surgeons in a Nigerian general hospital performing surgery using torchlight due to a power outage. The claim has sparked outrage, with many users citing it as evidence of the country’s struggling healthcare system and unreliable electricity supply. However, findings by NDRFactCheck show that this claim is false.

X users assert that the image captures a real-time situation in a Nigerian hospital where doctors were forced to rely on their phone torchlight during surgery. The posts are often accompanied by captions criticising the state of infrastructure and governance, encouraging users to share as proof of systemic failure.

On the 25th of March 2026, X user @Dr_Chibuike_M posted the photo on his page with the caption “A major surgery carried out under phone flashlights in a Nigerian teaching hospital”. His post has since generated 1.5 million views, 310 likes, and 286 shares.

A screenshot of the post

A verified Facebook page Typical African also posted the same photo with the caption, “This image was taken in Nigeria, where a doctor was captured operating using only a phone flashlight. It’s disheartening to see this when the government continues to spend millions on rice just to bribe voters ahead of the next elections. Misplaced priorities.”

A reverse image search and cross-platform verification reveal that the photo is not from Nigeria. Instead, it originates from Ghana and dates to approximately three years ago.

On the 23rd of September 2023, Ghanaian X user @GeorgeAnagli posted the photo with a text that reads, “Be there and don’t support the good cause.” You could be the one down there! #OccupyJulorbiHouse” On the same date, another Ghanaian X user, @Jeremyb_, posted the photo with the caption “THIS IS WHY WE PROTEST #OccupyJulorbiHouse”

‘Occupy Julorbi House’ was a Ghanaian three-day protest which started off as an online protest on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, using the hashtag #OccupyJulorbiHouse. The #OccupyJulorbiHouse hashtag is a wordplay on ‘occupy’ and ‘Jubilee House’, which is Ghana’s seat of government.

The viral image had previously circulated online in a different context and was then recirculated and falsely linked to Nigeria. In its earlier appearance, it was not associated with any Nigerian hospital, nor was it connected to current events in the country.

This indicates that the image has been recycled and misrepresented, a common tactic in misinformation where old visuals are repurposed to fit new narratives.

Why the Claim Spread

The renewed traction of the image is closely tied to recent electricity challenges in Nigeria, particularly persistent power outages affecting homes, businesses, and public institutions, including hospitals. Reports and public conversations about erratic power supply have increased frustration, making citizens more likely to believe and share content that reflects their lived experiences.

In the past, there have been documented cases of power outages in Nigerian health facilities, with some healthcare workers resorting to improvised lighting during emergencies. These real incidents create fertile ground for misleading content to thrive, as people are less likely to question claims that seem plausible.

The emotional weight of the issue—healthcare combined with electricity failure—also plays a role. Content that provokes anger or concern tends to travel faster online, especially when it confirms existing fears or criticisms.

CONCLUSION

The claim that the viral image shows surgeons using torchlight in a Nigerian general hospital is false. The photo was taken in Ghana several years ago and has been wrongly linked to Nigeria.

Misinformation like this not only misleads—it shapes public perception and erodes trust in both institutions and information sources. Sharing unverified claims, even when they seem credible, can amplify confusion and weaken genuine advocacy efforts to improve systems.

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