By Uzair Adam
A video depicting Nigerian and French troops unloading supplies in a coordinated manner has garnered significant attention on social media.
The Daily Reality reports that the footage has sparked controversies surrounding France’s alleged intentions in Nigeria.
The controversy intensified after Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, dismissed claims that the country had ceded any part of its territory to France.
Idris issued a statement on Thursday addressing allegations that Nigeria was conspiring with France to destabilize the Niger Republic through terrorism.
Mahdi Shehu, a public affairs commentator, had previously alleged plans to establish a French military base in northeastern Nigeria.
He claimed the plans gained traction after Femi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), reportedly hosted French soldiers.
In a video accompanying Shehu’s since-deleted social media post, Nigerian troops were seen offloading supplies, including bags of rice, from trucks while French soldiers unloaded a cargo plane.
The scene included vehicles, personnel in uniform, and a bus displaying a French flag. In the video, a Nigerian soldier stated that the troops had recently left a counterterrorism training centre.
However, investigations by TheCable revealed that the video has been online since January 2013.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the footage shows ECOWAS troops, including 156 Nigerians, arriving at Senou International Airport in Bamako, Mali.
The mission was part of a regional peacekeeping effort to stabilize Mali during a crisis.
Reacting to Idris’ statement, Shehu urged the government to halt its denials.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s defence headquarters dismissed the allegations as “baseless.”
The resurfaced video highlights the challenges of misinformation in public discourse, underscoring the need for careful verification before making conclusions or spreading claims.