{"id":24213,"date":"2025-08-29T12:22:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T11:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=24213"},"modified":"2025-08-29T12:22:57","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T11:22:57","slug":"no-proof-putin-threatened-to-wipe-nigeria-off-map-over-alleged-interference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/no-proof-putin-threatened-to-wipe-nigeria-off-map-over-alleged-interference\/","title":{"rendered":"No proof Putin threatened to wipe Nigeria off map over alleged interference\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Claim: A Facebook user @Rightsource TV<\/a> alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened<\/a> to \u201cwipe Nigeria off the map\u201d if the country meddled in Burkina Faso\u2019s affairs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Verdict: False. There is no evidence that Vladimir Putin threatened to wipe Nigeria off the map. The claim originated from social media and has no support from credible sources.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Text<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since Ibrahim Traore took over Burkina Faso via a coup, there have been many allegations of the West trying to sabotage<\/a> his rule or even make attempts <\/a>on his life. This narrative gained even more traction on social media when U.S. AFRICOM<\/a> commander General Michael Langley was mentioned in online debates. Users accused him of being part of a wider Western plan to destabilise<\/a> Burkina Faso, pointing to his public criticisms of Traore\u2019s leadership as supposed evidence of hidden intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent narrative, shared by a Facebook account @Rightsource TV<\/a>, claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to \u201cwipe Nigeria off the map\u201d if the country continues to meddle in Burkina Faso\u2019s affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The claim was accompanied<\/a> by a one-minute, 17-second video featuring a woman who declared, \u201cThis fresh news is just coming in. Russia is sending a strong warning to Nigeria, and I specifically mean the Nigerian government. If they attempt to bring Ibrahim Traore  down, Vladimir Putin has said Nigeria will be swept from the map of the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She went on to frame Nigeria as a puppet of the West, warning that non-compliance would attract dire consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Aug. 26, 2025, the post had already amassed more than 586,000 views, 14,000 likes, and 1,800 comments. The comment section revealed a mix of reactions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

User @Alexander David<\/a> quipped: \u201cPlease let him sweep only Abuja, that is where they are.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, @Beenah Naseer<\/a> pleaded: \u201cNot all Nigerians are doing it. Please, when coming, just go straight to Aso Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another user, @Litiya Sikufele<\/a>, supported the supposed warning: \u201cIf Nigeria does not want to cooperate with other African countries, then let Russia use force. We want Africa to unite.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet others expressed frustration at the absurdity of the claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

@Henry John<\/a>, for instance, wrote: \u201cPutin sometimes talks before he thinks. How can he wipe Nigeria off the map for a crime committed by one man? This is absolute rubbish and senseless. Is he possessed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing the virality of the post and the conflicting opinions it generated, DUBAWA decided to check and ascertain if the claim is true or false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We searched with relevant keywords to check if Vladimir Putin had ever made such a statement, but we found no evidence. Neither local nor international news outlets have reported or recorded any such incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vladimir Putin did not publicly declare his intention to wipe Nigeria off the map, but his relationship with Africa shows how he projects influence in indirect ways. Under his leadership, Russia has built ties with several African nations through diplomacy<\/a>, security cooperation<\/a>, and economic deals. Moscow has hosted Russia\u2013Africa summits<\/a>, signed trade and energy agreements, and supplied arms to governments that want alternatives to Western partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond formal diplomacy, Russia has extended its reach through private military contractors<\/a>, with the Wagner Group, which protects regimes in exchange for access to resources. Putin presents these efforts as part of a \u201cmultipolar world\u201d where African states resist Western dominance, thereby strengthening his image as a strategic partner on the continent. In this sense, while he has issued no direct threats against Nigeria, his Africa policy shows how influence can operate without aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lopsided view of Nigeria in the scheme of things <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Much of the conversation around Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9\u2019s government in Burkina Faso has been framed in a way that unfairly casts Nigeria as a meddling power. Allegations that Nigeria is attempting to interfere in Ouagadougou\u2019s affairs lack credible evidence. Instead, what has taken root is a view shaped by viral content and narratives that distort the country\u2019s proper role in the region. Far from undermining Traore, Nigeria has maintained<\/a> a consistent policy of dialogue and non-interference, while working within ECOWAS to uphold stability across West Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is often overlooked, however, is that the real flow of influence has been in the opposite direction. Evidence suggests that countries in the Sahel, including Burkina Faso, have been linked to coordinated online efforts<\/a> aimed at reshaping public opinion in West Africa. These narratives work to discredit democracy, glorify military rule, and pressure Nigerians to admire or even emulate the junta model. The result is that Nigeria has not been an instigator but a target, drawn into the propaganda battlefield as a pawn, not a player. In summary, Nigeria is less the interfering power and more the victim of a deliberate campaign to distort its image and weaken its democratic standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DUBAWA\u2019s findings confirm that Putin did not make the alleged statement, as no credible media outlets or official reports have documented such a claim. It is only part of the numerous fabricated claims social media users share. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Claim: A Facebook user @Rightsource TV alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to \u201cwipe Nigeria off the map\u201d if the country meddled in Burkina Faso\u2019s affairs. Verdict: False. There is no evidence that Vladimir Putin threatened to wipe Nigeria off the map. The claim originated from social media and has no support from credible sources. Full Text Since Ibrahim Traore took over Burkina Faso via a coup, there have been many allegations of the West trying to sabotage his rule or even make attempts on his life. This narrative gained even more traction on social media when U.S. AFRICOM commander General Michael Langley was mentioned in online debates. Users accused him of being part of a wider Western plan to destabilise Burkina Faso, pointing to his public criticisms of Traore\u2019s leadership as supposed evidence of hidden intentions. A recent narrative, shared by a Facebook account @Rightsource TV, claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to \u201cwipe Nigeria off the map\u201d if the country continues to meddle in Burkina Faso\u2019s affairs. The claim was accompanied by a one-minute, 17-second video featuring a woman who declared, \u201cThis fresh news is just coming in. Russia is sending a strong warning to Nigeria, and I specifically mean the Nigerian government. If they attempt to bring Ibrahim Traore  down, Vladimir Putin has said Nigeria will be swept from the map of the world.\u201d  She went on to frame Nigeria as a puppet of the West, warning that non-compliance would attract dire consequences. By Aug. 26, 2025, the post had already amassed more than 586,000 views, 14,000 likes, and 1,800 comments. The comment section revealed a mix of reactions:  User @Alexander David quipped: \u201cPlease let him sweep only Abuja, that is where they are.\u201d  Similarly, @Beenah Naseer pleaded: \u201cNot all Nigerians are doing it. Please, when coming, just go straight to Aso Rock.\u201d Another user, @Litiya Sikufele, supported the supposed warning: \u201cIf Nigeria does not want to cooperate with other African countries, then let Russia use force. We want Africa to unite.\u201d Yet others expressed frustration at the absurdity of the claim. @Henry John, for instance, wrote: \u201cPutin sometimes talks before he thinks. How can he wipe Nigeria off the map for a crime committed by one man? This is absolute rubbish and senseless. Is he possessed?\u201d Seeing the virality of the post and the conflicting opinions it generated, DUBAWA decided to check and ascertain if the claim is true or false. Verification We searched with relevant keywords to check if Vladimir Putin had ever made such a statement, but we found no evidence. Neither local nor international news outlets have reported or recorded any such incident. Vladimir Putin did not publicly declare his intention to wipe Nigeria off the map, but his relationship with Africa shows how he projects influence in indirect ways. Under his leadership, Russia has built ties with several African nations through diplomacy, security cooperation, and economic deals. Moscow has hosted Russia\u2013Africa summits, signed trade and energy agreements, and supplied arms to governments that want alternatives to Western partners.  Beyond formal diplomacy, Russia has extended its reach through private military contractors, with the Wagner Group, which protects regimes in exchange for access to resources. Putin presents these efforts as part of a \u201cmultipolar world\u201d where African states resist Western dominance, thereby strengthening his image as a strategic partner on the continent. In this sense, while he has issued no direct threats against Nigeria, his Africa policy shows how influence can operate without aggression. Lopsided view of Nigeria in the scheme of things  Much of the conversation around Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9\u2019s government in Burkina Faso has been framed in a way that unfairly casts Nigeria as a meddling power. Allegations that Nigeria is attempting to interfere in Ouagadougou\u2019s affairs lack credible evidence. Instead, what has taken root is a view shaped by viral content and narratives that distort the country\u2019s proper role in the region. Far from undermining Traore, Nigeria has maintained a consistent policy of dialogue and non-interference, while working within ECOWAS to uphold stability across West Africa. What is often overlooked, however, is that the real flow of influence has been in the opposite direction. Evidence suggests that countries in the Sahel, including Burkina Faso, have been linked to coordinated online efforts aimed at reshaping public opinion in West Africa. These narratives work to discredit democracy, glorify military rule, and pressure Nigerians to admire or even emulate the junta model. The result is that Nigeria has not been an instigator but a target, drawn into the propaganda battlefield as a pawn, not a player. In summary, Nigeria is less the interfering power and more the victim of a deliberate campaign to distort its image and weaken its democratic standing. Conclusion DUBAWA\u2019s findings confirm that Putin did not make the alleged statement, as no credible media outlets or official reports have documented such a claim. It is only part of the numerous fabricated claims social media users share. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"hannibal_claim_source":"","hannibal_source_label":"","hannibal_card_color":"blue","_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[1571,3812,3815,16],"tags":[],"verdict":[],"ppma_author":[4069],"class_list":["post-24213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fact-check","category-headline","category-homepage","category-politics"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8R6dE-6ix","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":4069,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"rejoice-taddy","display_name":"Rejoice Taddy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-17.png?fit=680%2C451&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24213"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24215,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24213\/revisions\/24215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24213"},{"taxonomy":"verdict","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdict?post=24213"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=24213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}