Nigerian Army Refutes Social Media Claims of Using Outdated Photos in Kogi Rescue Announcement
The Nigerian Army has denied social media claims alleging that the photographs used in its recent announcement of rescuing two kidnap victims in Kogi State were old pictures taken months earlier.
The Nigerian Army officially dismissed the claims as “entirely false and misleading” in a statement signed by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, and posted on X on Tuesday.
The Army insisted that the images shared were current, captured during the actual rescue operation. They confirmed the photographs were taken on November 2, 2025, by troops from Forward Operating Base Oguma during a successful mission in Achigili Forest that led to the rescue of two kidnapped victims and the recovery of a ransom.
The statement further added that the Army possesses verifiable technical evidence to support its claim. Lieutenant Abdullahi confirmed this: “For the avoidance of doubt, the attached photographs contain verifiable geolocation data confirming that they were taken at the precise coordinates of the forest area, where the operation took place.”
The Nigerian Army stated that every media release issued by the organization undergoes a formally established approval process
The Nigerian Army affirmed its commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability in all media engagements. It stated that “Every photograph or footage released is thoroughly vetted and approved through established operational public relations procedures before dissemination.” The Army described the viral report as a deliberate attempt to undermine the security efforts of its troops.
Lieutenant Abdullahi noted, “The false narrative being circulated on social media is, therefore, a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to discredit the credible efforts and successes of our gallant troops.” The Army concluded by urging the public to ignore the false post and continue providing accurate information to security agencies.
