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Social media was recently set ablaze with disturbing photos purporting to show a Nigerian soldier kidnapped by bandits. The images, which spread rapidly across Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter), showed a man in Nigerian Army camouflage trousers tied up by supposed abductors.
But a closer look has revealed the truth—the claim is false.
Verification confirmed that the man in the photos is not a Nigerian soldier but an actor on the set of a Hausa movie. The camouflage trousers he wore were costumes, commonly used in Kannywood productions to depict military or security personnel. The so-called “abduction” was simply part of a scripted scene, not a real-life tragedy.
Unfortunately, before fact-checkers could weigh in, the misleading narrative had already gone viral, sparking panic and angry reactions online. Many Nigerians, already weary of rising insecurity, shared the images with captions alleging that soldiers were now easy targets for bandits.
Experts warn that such unverified claims contribute to fear, erode public trust in security institutions, and can even be exploited by criminals to spread disinformation.
“This is why digital literacy and verification are crucial. People must resist the urge to share sensational content without fact-checking. It only worsens public anxiety,” one security analyst explained.
While the incident turned out to be a false alarm, it also raised another sensitive issue: the frequent use of military uniforms in movies. Authorities caution that portraying soldiers in undignified situations on screen can be misinterpreted and misused, especially in a climate of insecurity.
Conclusion: The viral claim of a kidnapped Nigerian soldier is false. The photos are behind-the-scenes shots from a Hausa film production, not evidence of a real abduction.
Filmmakers are urged to exercise caution in using military camouflage and depicting soldiers, while the public is advised to verify before sharing content that could mislead and cause panic.
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