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Claim: A viral video circulating on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp shows a supposed mermaid captured by fishermen at a Lagos beach.
Verdict: False! The video originates from an upcoming Nigerian movie titled “ILAKOSI”, produced by Starboard Entertainment, scheduled for release on October 23, 2025.
Full Text
On October 11, 2025, social media platforms were abuzz with a video allegedly showing a mermaid trapped in a fishing net at a Lagos beach, screaming for help.
One of the Facebook pages that shared the video, A Fidelis Production (with about 19,000 followers), amassed over 1.4 million views, 6,000 likes, 608 comments, and 587 shares. The caption read:
“Lagos Beach, she turned into this… Things are happening oo.”
Although a few users suspected it might be artificially generated, the post’s caption was misleading enough to convince many others that the footage was genuine.
On Instagram, the user @fdsunnex (71,000 followers) shared the same video, generating hundreds of comments and over 1,000 likes. Similar posts appeared on pages like @northernblog and @northernblog_online_tv, which together boast over 80,000 followers, captioned:
“WTF, please tell me I hope this is AI… not something real.”
Some commenters, however, appeared convinced of its authenticity. For instance, one Facebook user, Odinaka Eboh, wrote:
“This happened at Elegushi Beach yesterday. I saw it with my eyes. The mermaid is from Ijebu Ode.”
Given the potential for misinformation, DUBAWA conducted a verification of the viral claim.
Verification
A Google Reverse Image Search conducted by DUBAWA traced the original clip to the official Instagram page of @starboardentertainment_, the verified account of Starboard Entertainment. The caption accompanying the post clearly identified the footage as part of a promotional teaser for their upcoming film “ILAKOSI,” premiering on October 23, 2025.
The caption read: “STRANGE THINGS — ‘ILAKOSI’ The Movie, coming this month (23rd October) from the stable of Starboard Entertainment.”
Further checks revealed that A Fidelis Production, one of the pages that shared the video, later admitted in a comment under its own post that the video was AI-generated.
Moreover, closer examination of the footage revealed apparent inconsistencies:
- The “mermaid” character speaks Yoruba, which is unlikely for such a mythical being.
- There are no footprints or movement traces around the supposed creature.
- The visuals appear digitally rendered, lacking the natural motion and lighting typical of real-world footage.
Ultimately, there is no scientific evidence proving that mermaids exist.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show a mermaid captured in Lagos is not real. It is AI-generated content from the forthcoming Nigerian movie “ILAKOSI” by Starboard Entertainment.
