A Facebook post by Born 2 Blog, a popular Sierra Leonean blog with more than 500,000 followers, has shared images claiming to show former Sierra Leone military leader Valentine Strasser lying in a hospital bed after falling seriously ill.
The post attracted wide attention, with many users expressing concern and sharing messages of sympathy.
What was claimed?
The blog posted two images. One shows Valentine Strasser during his time in military uniform. The second image shows a man in a hospital bed who appears to have undergone a leg amputation due to illness while the other images show President Bio visited him at the hospital. The caption suggests all images are of the same person. While three of the images are of him.
What we found
Using reverse image search tools, we traced the hospital image to earlier reports published outside Sierra Leone. The image matches photos used in news stories about Zanzan Karwor, a former Liberian chief. Similar images of him appear on the here, here, and here, all from Liberia
Reports from Liberia state that Zanzan Karwor lost his leg following illness and later became bedridden after years of service. The image had been circulating in Liberian media before it appeared on Born 2 Blog’s Facebook page.
There is no credible evidence linking the hospital image to Valentine Strasser.
The verification was carried out using digital verification methods, including reverse image search. The ability to detect the original source of the image comes from media literacy and verification skills gained through professional training with BBC Media Action, with support from the European Union in Sierra Leone which focuses on tackling misinformation and disinformation.
Who is Valentine Strasser?
Valentine Strasser became Head of State of Sierra Leone in 1992 after leading a military coup at the age of 25. He ruled until 1996, when he was removed in another military takeover.
In recent years, there have been public discussions about his health. Some local reports have suggested that he has faced medical challenges. However, there has been no verified report confirming that he suffered a leg amputation as shown in the viral image.
Conclusion
The image showing a man who had his leg amputated due to illness is not Valentine Strasser. It appears to be a photo of former Liberian chief Zanzan Karwor that has been wrongly captioned.
False claims involving public figures can spread quickly on social media, especially when shared by large platforms. Users are advised to check the source of images and verify claims before sharing them.
Accurate reporting helps prevent confusion and protects public trust.
