Story About Lagos Woman Having Sex With Dogs Goes Viral On Nigerian Twitter, Sparking Canine Memes And Controversy

Throughout today, the hashtag #doggy trended on Twitter following a viral rumor from Nigeria in which a woman was reportedly paid to have sex with over a dozen dogs. The rumor, which centers on WhatsApp screenshots describing the woman’s story and a graphic viral video of apparent intercourse with a dog, has outraged and amused users on the platform.

"Where my fellas dey see babe bang bayi? Or na because I no get money?" #dogs #doggy pic.twitter.com/hKmfcB4P2Y

— juniorosawese (@Osawese11) April 29, 2022

Me after going through Twitter today #doggy pic.twitter.com/7psXkQVJHC

— Yklin_ (@OYklin) April 29, 2022

"#doggy" trended with a group of other hashtags, including "#lekki" and "#lekkigirl." In the "woman's confession, related through WhatsApp screenshots that went viral, she describes going to Lekki (a very wealthy and recently constructed part of Lagos, Nigeria’s capital city) and being paid large sums of money to have sex with a rich man’s dog while he watches. She describes buying herself a car but then falling ill with diseases she presumably caught from the dogs. The story is completely unverified, but that didn't stop the discussion about it from making the rounds online.

Amaka tell me the truth “who disvirgin you”

Amaka : na dog 🐕

#doggy
#lekki pic.twitter.com/L19XAJstLi

— MÀXÍMÌŁŁÍÀŃØ 𓃵 (@WolfgangNwaruh) April 29, 2022

Girl: Baby let’s forget about my past let's focus on our future.
Meanwhile;
Her Past: *👇👇👇#dog #lekki #LekkiGirl pic.twitter.com/vjgPCgXfxG

— Itz_Jaytoonz (@Itz_jaytoonz) April 28, 2022

The story’s rapid spread among Nigerian social media users seems to be not only due to its salacious content, but also because of particular nerves the story seems to touch on. In the #doggy story, the rich exploit the poor, the city of Lagos (compared by many users to the biblical Sodom & Gomorrah) corrupts the young and the sinner confesses what she has done and expresses regret. Many users responded with screenshots of relevant bible verses, invoking Christian values.

Dis generation is fvcked 😢 All because of money……Girls now sleeps with dogs, y'all psychopaths.
Devil finally succeeded in turning your brains to mud to the extent that you can f*** a dog in exchange for money
E better as I dey single laidis#LekkiGirl #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/8WsplUBcLq

— BoboKanBai (@BoboKanBai) April 28, 2022

The people of Sodom and Gomorrah this morning after seeing the #doggy video.
Na dog Don vindicate them.
Bowen. pic.twitter.com/BgPSIKC40u

— Idongesit 🖊 (@idong_udoewah) April 29, 2022

Omo, Pastor don open bible for Lagos girls ooo.

Dog is a good meat for a Calabar aan not a doing machine for girls.#Lekki #LekkiGirl pic.twitter.com/ewc9DcIks3

— Obol Lopon of Calabar (@OmoriOmoriE) April 28, 2022

Some users, however, reveled in the chance to post photos of dogs — an eternal and universal internet phenomenon.

Many are mad few are roaming😂😂😂#doggy #dogs #gistlover Na dog #BurnaMSG #Dubai pic.twitter.com/ouoqPWxkJ7

— Bitter Sugarc@ne🌛 (@brutusghali2) April 29, 2022

Na the new top boys be this#doggy #dog pic.twitter.com/wFCSdrkirn

— ℑ𝔨𝔢𝔫𝔫𝔞 𝔈𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔲𝔢𝔩 (@fee__vah) April 29, 2022

All the dogs in Lagos rn😂😂😂#doggy pic.twitter.com/qAjKY5ko0r

— AMIR (@theonlyameer_) April 29, 2022

#doggy from the bible pic.twitter.com/oTfs89YDcR

— Christopher junix👿 (@Christopherjuix) April 29, 2022

Nigeria has had a complicated history with Twitter. Viral hashtags like "#BringBackOurGirls" and "#EndSARS" have made the platform an important presence in the country’s politics, but Twitter has also been a target.

From June 2021 to January 2022, Twitter was banned in Nigeria after the platform took down a tweet advocating violence from the country's President, Muhammadu Buhari. Service was reinstated four months ago following an undisclosed agreement between Twitter and the government.

While Twitter’s presence in the United States gets the most media attention, the platform is also a powerful presence in other countries and a place where memes and culture wars from around the world gain traction.