The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted claims surrounding a viral video circulating on social media, which was falsely presented as footage from the recent terrorist attack on troops in Marte, Borno State.
According to the DHQ, the video being circulated has no connection to the incident that occurred on May 12, 2025. In a statement released on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, clarified that the video in question actually dates back to December 2020.
An analysis of the footage, Kangye said, revealed clear discrepancies in terrain, visuals, and operational context, all of which do not align with the recent attack in Marte.
He accused terrorist sympathizers and criminal elements of deliberately recycling old footage to mislead the public and lower 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.
ALSO READ
Kangye described the circulation of the outdated footage as a calculated attempt to instill fear, discredit the military’s ongoing efforts, and erode public trust in the Armed Forces.
He further emphasized that those behind such acts would be traced and brought to justice.
“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 added.
He reassured Nigerians of the military’s commitment to defending the nation’s sovereignty and making steady gains in the fight against terrorism.
In conclusion, Kangye urged citizens to ignore the fake video and rely solely on official sources for verified information.
“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,” he said.
