Claim: An X user shared an image of apprehended terrorists and linked it to Benue State.
Verdict: Misleading! Evidence from DUBAWA’s investigation traced the image to a military attack on a terrorist camp in Karim Lamido village, Taraba State, not Benue State.
Full Text
On Nov. 11, 2025, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), a joint military effort targeting terrorists in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States, raided a terrorist’s hideout in Benue State, killing one and recovering caches of guns and ammunition.
Since Donald Trump’s threat of sending the United States’ military troops to address insecurity in the country, Nigeria’s security forces have swung into action, leading to confrontations with terrorist groups in conflict-ridden states.
In light of this, an X user @Citizenobs on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, shared an image of arrested masked individuals and claimed that they are apprehended terrorists after a raid in Benue State.
Along with the image, the X user wrote, “The Nigerian military troops were said to have raided Fulani terrorist camps in Benue yesterday.”
“During their parade, their faces were covered from the public,” the X user further wrote.
The engagement statistic shows that the post has attracted over 73,000 views, 1,700 likes, 960 reposts, 48 quotes, and 46 bookmarks.
Dubawa noticed that while most comments aligned with the claimant’s sentiment, others debated the concept of ethnic identity.
“What’s the point of a ‘public parade’ if the public can’t even see the faces?…” @John9RO questioned.
Another user, @DiokparaNri, wrote, “Arranged terrorist.”
Meanwhile, PoloM77 commented, “These men don’t even look like Fulani herdsmen who are mostly very thin and fit…”
Given the magnitude of online discussions surrounding the “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, DUBAWA decided to investigate the claimant’s post.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google Reverse Image Search, and we discovered similar images shared on Facebook in February 2025, as seen here and here.
Both Facebook posts detail that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke invaded a notorious terrorist camp in Angwan Bala community, Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State. The reports mentioned that the terrorists, who are initially from Plateau State, paid the district chief of Amar village in Karim-Lamido LGA N1.5 million for them to camp in the area.
The Facebook posts have pictures of the arrested terrorists, similar to the one that the claimant shared.
DUBAWA further checked credible media publications to confirm the veracity of the Facebook posts shared in February 2025.
On Feb. 3, 2025, Vanguard reported that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke dismantled a notorious terrorist camp in Angwan Bala community, Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State. The troops killed a terrorist, while 23 others surrendered, including 19 males and four females.
The report further stated that the terrorists, who were originally from Plateau State, paid N1.5 million to a local chief in Amar village to establish the camp in Taraba State.
Channels Television, The Guardian, and Zagazola all reported the crackdown on the terrorists in their hideout in Taraba State.
Conclusion
The image was shot during a crackdown on terrorists’ hideout in Taraba State in February 2025, not Benue State. The claimant’s post is misleading.