A video making rounds on social media, supposedly featuring Nigerien soldiers issuing a warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been thoroughly investigated and found to false by The Explainer’s fact-checking team. The Explainer’s in-depth analysis of the origin of the video and it’s credibility has unveiled evidence that contradicts the claims of those behind it.
The said video showcases military personnel displaying an array of weaponry, including machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers. Notably, one individual was even seen on the video with a machete across his throat. The accompanying description asserts that these are Nigerien soldiers demonstrating their might and readiness to confront Tinubu and ECOWAS.
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Upon conducting a reverse image search on one of the video frames, the result shows that the video is not recent and not in any way connected to the present crisis situation in Niger. Our investigation further uncovered that the video was initially shared by a TV news reporter on YouTube on April 4th, in celebration of Senegalese independence day. Again, it was also shared by TikTok users on the same date, further eroding its connection to ongoing crisis in Niger.
Our fact-checkers also identified a critical inconsistency on the colour of the flag shown on the said video. The flags showcased in the video footage display red, gold, and green colors, which are incongruent with Niger’s official national flag. The official Niger Republic flag consists of stripes in orange, white, and green colors. The Explainer’s fact-checking team advice the public to be mindful of fake news particularly at this moment that tension is high in the ECOWAS sub region.
