Nigerian Army Accused of Recycling Old Photos to Impress Trump as Online Users Expose “Fake Rescue Operation Amid US-Nigeria Tension

Nigerian Army Accused of Recycling Old Photos to Impress Trump as Online Users Expose “Fake Rescue Operation Amid US-Nigeria Tension

The Nigerian Army has come under intense criticism after allegedly posting old images as part of what it described as a “new rescue operation,” in what many see as a desperate attempt to impress U.S. President Donald J. Trump and the international community.

The incident unfolded after an X (formerly Twitter) user called out the Army’s official handle for allegedly sharing outdated pictures to portray renewed action against insurgents. The user, reacting angrily to the post, wrote:

“Why are you lying? These are people’s lives you are playing with. Tell me, how will we ever believe anything from this handle? This is the social media era — we will know the truth.”

The criticism quickly went viral, with several social media users digging into archives and matching the allegedly “new” photos with older images from a 2022 rescue operation in Borno State. Many accused the military of manipulating narratives to gain credibility amid mounting global pressure over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Analysts believe the move might be part of a broader strategy to showcase visible results following the recent attention Nigeria has received from the U.S. government and Trump’s comments hinting at possible military action in Africa’s terror hotspots.

“Instead of tackling the root of insecurity, what we are seeing is a PR stunt gone wrong,” said a political commentator who spoke to Glintnews. “The world is watching, and misinformation like this only worsens Nigeria’s image.”

Online reactions have been fierce, with hashtags such as #FakeRescuePhotos, #NigerianArmy, and #OperationDeception trending across social media platforms. Citizens expressed disappointment, urging the Army to maintain transparency rather than seek validation through manipulated publicity.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army has not released any official response to the growing allegations. The Defence Headquarters also remained silent, fueling further speculation and public mistrust.

With Nigeria’s security situation already under global scrutiny, this latest controversy adds yet another layer of skepticism about the government’s claims of progress in combating terrorism and banditry.