Photo caption: Defence Headquarters
The Defence Headquarters debunked a viral video circulating on social media, falsely claimed to be footage from the recent terrorist attack on troops in Marte, Borno State.
The video, the DHA said is unrelated to the May 12 incident , adding that the incident captured in the video occurred in December 2020.
According to a statement on Friday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said an analysis of the video revealed that the terrain, visuals, and operational context of the video do not match the recent Marte encounter.
He accused terrorist sympathizers and criminal elements of deliberately recycling the footage to mislead the public and undermine military morale.
“For the avoidance of doubt, troops of AFN in Marte came under attack on Monday 12 May 2025 at about 0300hrs. However, the troops were able to repel the terrorists after fierce gun battle with a large number of terrorists neutralized while others escaped with bullet wounds. Following this, the terrorist resulted in sharing an old clip as propaganda to mislead gullible members of the public. This act of misinformation is not only malicious but also a failed attempt to demoralize our gallant troops and undermine the confidence of Nigerians in the Armed Forces. , ” he stated.
Kangye described the circulation of the outdated footage as a malicious attempt to spread fear, discredit the ongoing military operations, and erode public confidence in the Armed Forces.
He vowed that the military would identify and bring to justice those behind such disinformation campaigns.
Kangye said, “This act of misinformation is not only malicious but also a failed attempt to demoralize our gallant troops and undermine the confidence of Nigerians in the Armed Forces. The AFN condemns in the strongest terms this reckless dissemination of fake content and warns that those behind such disinformation campaigns will be identified and held accountable in accordance with the law. ”
He reassured Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and making significant progress in the fight against terrorism.
Kangye also urged citizens to disregard the fake video and depend only on official channels for credible updates on military operations.
“We urge the general public to disregard the fake video and rely only on official sources for verified information on military operations. The support and cooperation of all Nigerians remain vital in the collective fight against terrorism and all forms of insecurity. You are please requested to disseminate this information to the general public.
