A viral video claiming that United States (US) troops had arrived in Nigeria has caused widespread panic across social media platforms, with thousands of Nigerians reacting to the footage in shock and disbelief.
The clip, which was first posted on November 6 by a user on X (formerly Twitter) identified as Spaghetti Mafia (@italian_Spencer), purportedly shows the US Army landing on Bonny Island in Rivers State. The caption accompanying the video read: “Breaking News: US Army lands in Bonny Island, Rivers State!! Donald Trump wasn’t playing around.”
Within hours, the post went viral, attracting tens of thousands of views, shares, and comments. Many users expressed concern that the US military presence in Nigeria signaled an imminent intervention, while others called for clarification from official sources to verify the authenticity of the video.
Presidency Responds to Viral Claim
In response to the growing panic, the Nigerian Presidency swiftly addressed the situation, debunking the claims as false and misleading. D.O. Olusegun, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, responded directly under the viral post, asserting: “This is false.” The Presidency emphasized that there had been no US troop deployment to Nigerian soil and warned the public against spreading unverified content that could incite fear or confusion.
Context: Trump’s Remarks on Nigeria
The video surfaced shortly after US President Donald Trump made contentious statements regarding Nigeria’s internal security. Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities from attacks and threatened to suspend all US aid to the country. He further declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and hinted at possible military action to eliminate Islamic terrorist groups operating within Nigeria’s borders.
Trump’s remarks sparked an international debate, with several countries, including China, expressing strong opposition to any unilateral military intervention in Nigeria. China reaffirmed its support for Nigerian sovereignty, calling for peaceful resolution of the nation’s security challenges through diplomatic and cooperative means rather than external military force.
The Nigerian public reacted swiftly to the video, with some citizens expressing fear over potential foreign military involvement, while others criticized the rapid spread of unverified information online. The incident underscores the power of social media in shaping public perception and highlights the need for careful verification of news, especially when it concerns national security and international relations.
See below for the viral clip and discussions: