The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed a viral video circulating on social media that purportedly shows terrorists attacking and taking over a military base in Marte, Borno State.
The DHQ described the video as part of a disinformation campaign, clarifying that the footage is not from the recent events in Marte but from a completely different location, first shared online on December 7, 2020.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, said the clip had been thoroughly examined and found to be fake.
He stated, “The attention of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has been drawn to a video currently circulating on social media, falsely presented as footage from the recent attack on troops in Marte, Borno State.”
“Following a thorough analysis by relevant authorities, it has been confirmed that the video is not related to the Marte incident in any form.”
“The visual content, terrain, and operational context clearly indicate that the footage is from an occurrence at a different location which was first posted on 7 December 2020.”
According to him, the recycled clip is being manipulated by “criminal elements and sympathisers of terrorist groups” aiming to mislead the public and create fear, while undermining the progress being made by Nigerian troops in various operations nationwide.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” Kangye added, “troops of AFN in Marte came under attack on Monday 12 May 2025 at about 0300hrs (3 am).”
“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.”
The DHQ condemned the deliberate spread of the outdated video, emphasizing that such actions are designed to demoralize military personnel and erode public confidence in the Armed Forces.
“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,” Kangye stated.
He reassured Nigerians that the military remains steadfast in its mission to protect the country’s sovereignty and territory.
“The Nigerian military remains fully committed and unwavering in its efforts at defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.”
“Our troops in the North East and across all theatres of operations remain resolute and are making significant progress in dismantling terrorist networks,” he said.
The DHQ urged citizens to disregard the misleading video and seek verified information from official military sources.
“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,” the statement concluded.
