A recent fact-checking report by Reuters has debunked social media claims of a fire outbreak at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s headquarters in Abuja, revealing that the circulating images were AI-generated. The report comes after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) denied the fire incident, describing the claims as “totally false.”

The CBN’s denial followed social media posts on December 20, which claimed that a fire had engulfed the bank’s head office, potentially destroying properties and cash assets worth 12 trillion ($8.26 billion). The posts included images of a high-rise building resembling the CBN’s head office with flames and smoke rising from its roof. However, uncropped versions of the images carried a watermark from Grok, an AI assistant that can generate images.

According to Reuters, there are no credible reports of a fire at the CBN’s Abuja headquarters on December 20. The bank took to its social media platforms to urge the public to rely solely on verified and official communication channels for accurate information, warning against sharing unverified content that could cause unnecessary alarm.

In a separate incident, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) reported a fire at one of its Abuja offices on December 20. The fire, which occurred on the fourth floor of the building, was contained by responders, and no one was injured or killed. The FIRS office is approximately 4.5 kilometers from the CBN’s head office.

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, the FCT Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force did not respond to requests for comment on the alleged CBN fire incident.

The CBN’s swift denial and the fact-checking report by Reuters highlight the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media to prevent the spread of misinformation. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for credible sources of information and the potential consequences of sharing false news. With the increasing use of AI-generated images, it is essential to be cautious when consuming information online and to rely on trusted sources for accurate news.