The Defence Headquarters has dismissed a viral video circulating on social media, falsely claimed to depict the recent terrorist attack on troops in Marte, Borno State, as fake and misleading.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, clarified that the footage in question is unrelated to the incident that occurred on May 12, 2025. According to him, the video was originally recorded during an attack in December 2020.

 

“An analysis of the viral footage revealed that the terrain, visuals, and operational context do not correspond with the recent Marte encounter,” Kangye said.

 

He accused terrorist sympathizers and criminal elements of recycling the outdated clip to misinform the public and erode trust in the Armed Forces.

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) came under attack in Marte at about 0300 hours on Monday, May 12, 2025. The troops successfully repelled the terrorists after a fierce gun battle, neutralizing a significant number of assailants, while others fled with gunshot wounds,” Kangye stated.

 

“Following their defeat, the terrorists resorted to propaganda, circulating an old video in a bid to mislead gullible members of the public. This act is not only malicious but a failed attempt to demoralize our gallant troops and undermine public confidence in the military.”

 

Major General Kangye strongly condemned the dissemination of the outdated video and warned that those responsible for spreading disinformation will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

 

“This deliberate act of misinformation is reckless and unacceptable. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to defending the nation’s sovereignty and continues to make significant gains in the fight against terrorism,” he affirmed.

 

Kangye urged citizens to disregard the video and rely solely on official military channels for accurate updates.

 

“We appeal to the public to disregard the fake video and trust only verified information from credible sources. Public support and cooperation remain crucial in our collective efforts to combat terrorism and maintain national security,” he concluded.