A viral video on X claims ISWAP militants have entered Kogi State, parading seized military assets near Anambra.
ISWAP in Kogi? CyberPoe Fact-Check Exposes Misleading Viral Claim
A viral video circulating across X (formerly Twitter) has sparked alarm, with users claiming that fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have entered Kogi State, a region in Nigeria’s north-central zone that borders Anambra. The footage, widely shared under captions suggesting a new wave of insurgent expansion, allegedly shows ISWAP militants parading with seized Nigerian military assets. However, CyberPoe’s investigation finds that this claim is entirely false and misleading the video in question is not from Nigeria at all.
Origin of the Video
Through detailed analysis involving reverse image searches and keyframe examination via InVID and Google Lens, CyberPoe traced the video’s first appearance to August 2024. The footage was initially posted by conflict-monitoring accounts covering developments in the Sahel region, specifically between Fada N’Gourma and Boungou in eastern Burkina Faso. The visuals depict a convoy of the Burkina Faso Armed Forces ambushed by militants from Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) an al-Qaeda–linked group that has been active in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The terrain, vehicle markings, and uniforms visible in the clip all match verified images from that incident, not the Nigerian landscape.
Verified International Sources
CyberPoe cross-referenced the footage with independent reports published by Radio France Internationale (RFI) and Libération, both of which documented the August 2024 ambush that resulted in the deaths of over 140 Burkinabe soldiers. These reports were further corroborated by Turkish media outlets, which published identical visuals identifying them as part of the same JNIM assault. The consistent confirmation across multiple international agencies removes any doubt about the video’s actual origin Burkina Faso, not Nigeria.
How the False Claim Spread
The misleading post originated from an X account named “Citizen Observer”, which shared the video on October 22, 2025, with captions falsely linking it to Kogi State. CyberPoe’s analysis of the account’s activity shows that it frequently posts content sympathetic to Biafra separatist narratives, often portraying the Nigerian government and military as incapable of defending its territories. This pattern of behavior indicates politically motivated misinformation, designed to fuel distrust and panic among Nigerian social media users.
Geopolitical and Security Context
There is no credible evidence suggesting ISWAP presence or operations in Kogi State or its neighboring regions. The group’s activities remain concentrated in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, where its logistical networks, command structures, and recruitment bases are firmly established. No official statement or intelligence update from the Nigerian Armed Forces or regional security observers has reported any ISWAP movement toward the north-central corridor. The claim that militants have crossed into Kogi therefore lacks both strategic plausibility and factual basis.
CyberPoe’s Verdict
After verifying geolocation data, timeline consistency, and source credibility, CyberPoe concludes that the viral video has been falsely attributed to ISWAP activity in Nigeria. It was filmed in Burkina Faso in 2024 and depicts JNIM militants, not ISWAP fighters. The recycled footage has been repackaged to create fear and confusion, undermining public confidence in Nigerian security forces.
Verdict: ❌ False Context / Misleading Attribution
Conclusion: The claim that ISWAP has entered Kogi State is fabricated. The video is from a separate conflict in Burkina Faso involving an al-Qaeda affiliate, not the Islamic State network in Nigeria.
Final Word
CyberPoe advises readers to rely on verified intelligence updates, credible regional observers, and official defense communications rather than sensationalized social media claims. Disinformation thrives on fear but facts, verified through rigorous analysis, always reveal the truth.
CyberPoe | The Anti-Propaganda Frontline
