Controversy has erupted online after a series of images depicting apparent fire damage to the newly unveiled multi-million-naira mansion of popular Nigerian finance influencer, GehGeh, began circulating across social media platforms.
While the influencer hinted at arson, many online observers are dismissing the visuals as sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) edits designed to generate buzz.
GehGeh, widely known as “Africa’s most experienced financial coach,” recently celebrated the grand unveiling of his opulent new home with an array of guests. Shortly after, however, images purporting to show smoke billowing and debris scattered at the property started to appear online. Notably, these alleged “damage” photos mirrored the exact angles of previously released promotional shots of the pristine mansion.
Skeptics were quick to point out several inconsistencies within the images. Concerns were raised over the suspiciously uniform appearance of the smoke, the unaltered positions of objects like ladders from original photographs, and a complete absence of corroborating video footage or reports from reputable Nigerian news outlets such as Vanguard or Punch newspapers.
GehGeh himself fueled the discussion by posting a damaged photo on his social media, accompanied by the caption, “The Heart of man is wicked.” This post ignited a flurry of speculation, with some attributing the supposed incident to “village people” – a colloquial term for malicious individuals – while a growing number of observers suggested the images were sophisticated AI-generated edits intended to garner online attention and “clout.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the rapid dissemination of edited and potentially fabricated content on social media, highlighting how quickly manipulated images can stir public emotion and debate in the digital age.
