A senior aide to President Bola Tinubu has publicly rebuked social media personality Nasboi, demanding he stop spreading fear over a video purportedly showing terrorist activity on Nigerian soil. The extraordinary intervention from the Presidential Villa comes as the clip continues to generate millions of views across multiple platforms, prompting government officials to caution against misinformation that could damage Nigeria's international standing.
Presidential Villa Responds to Viral Video
On Monday, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Communications issued a sharp statement rejecting Nasboi's characterisation of the footage. The aide, whose office handles national security messaging, told reporters in Abuja that the video circulating online predates the current administration's security reforms. Government sources confirm the statement was released within hours of the clip gaining traction on Saturday.
The Presidential aide's rebuke marks the first formal government response to the viral content, which Nasboi had presented as evidence of ongoing terrorist infiltration in northern Nigeria. The statement called Nasboi's commentary "reckless" and accused him of exploiting public anxiety for personal engagement on social media.
What the Video Actually Shows
Investigations by Vanguard News have traced the footage to a location in Borno State, where military operations against Boko Haram remnants continue periodically. Security analysts who reviewed the clip at the newspaper's request dated the footage to early 2023, well before recent counter-terrorism operations intensified across the region. The Presidential aide's statement confirmed this timeline privately to journalists on Tuesday.
The video shows what appears to be armed figures in military-style uniforms moving through vegetation near a rural settlement. Initial captions accompanying the clip claimed the footage depicted a "fresh attack" on Nigerian communities, a characterisation that security officials have firmly denied. Military sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the figures in the video appear to be security personnel conducting routine patrol rather than insurgents.
Nasboi's Social Media Campaign
Nasboi, whose real name is widely known among Nigerian digital audiences, has built a substantial following by posting commentary on national security issues. His latest video, which remained live on major platforms as of Wednesday, had accumulated over 2.3 million views before the Presidential aide's statement. The influencer has not issued a public response to the government's rebuke.
Critics within Nigeria's journalism community have noted that Nasboi's channel has previously faced scrutiny for unverified security claims. A 2023 fact-checking report by a Lagos-based media NGO flagged three separate instances where his content was found to contain inaccurate information about bandit attacks in Northwest Nigeria. Nasboi has not addressed those findings publicly.
Official Response and National Security Context
The Presidential aide's intervention reflects growing government sensitivity about how security information circulates online. Nigeria faces persistent challenges with terrorist groups including Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast, as well as bandit networks across several northwestern states. Officials have long argued that unverified claims about attacks can undermine public confidence and interfere with military operations.
Security analysts note that the timing of the viral video coincides with increased international attention on Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts. The United Nations Security Council received a briefing on West African security threats last month, with Nigeria's progress highlighted by diplomats. Government officials are wary that misleading content could affect future foreign support for security programmes.
Impact on Social Media Discourse
The controversy has reignited debate about accountability for influencers who comment on sensitive national security matters. Nigerian digital rights advocates point to a 2022 amendment to the Cybercrime Act that criminalises spreading false information capable of causing public panic. Legal experts remain divided on how the law applies to social media personalities versus traditional media outlets.
Platform data shows the video generated significant engagement across Twitter, now known as X, and Instagram, with shares concentrated in northern Nigerian cities including Kano, Maiduguri, and Katsina. The geographic pattern suggests the content resonated particularly with communities that have experienced genuine attacks in recent years, a factor Nasboi's defenders cite when explaining why his audience found the claims credible.
What Happens Next
The Presidential aide stopped short of announcing any legal action against Nasboi, though the statement left the possibility open. Government lawyers are reportedly reviewing whether the influencer's conduct violates existing statutes. The Ministry of Information and Culture has not issued a separate statement as of Thursday morning.
Digital investigators tracking the video's spread note that multiple copies with altered captions continue to circulate, making accurate attribution difficult. Platforms have not removed the content, citing insufficient evidence of direct harm under their current policies. Nasboi's channel remains active, though no new security-related videos have been posted since the controversy erupted.
Watch for the Ministry of Information's response in the coming days. Officials have scheduled a press briefing for next week where they are expected to outline clearer guidelines for reporting security incidents. The outcome could reshape how Nigeria manages the boundary between public interest reporting and content that officials say amounts to fear-mongering.
