Images used to illustrate fact-check. Photo sources: The New Humanitarian and Nigerian Army/X.
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Claim: Facebook and X users share footage of “ISWAP“ terrorists passing through an army checkpoint unhindered.
Verdict: Misleading. The footage is from a movie set.
Full Text
A video clip showing some “Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)” terrorists moving past a Nigerian army checkpoint undisturbed has been making the rounds on social media. The alleged terrorists were seen waving their flags as they moved in an armed convoy while soldiers watched without intervening.
The footage, which began to circulate on Jan. 12, 2026, has received multiple instances of backlash, with others accusing the Nigerian Army of being an accomplice to Nigeria’s insecurity.
Bloggers with large followership have shared this video on Facebook and X, with users asking, “How can terrorists come out openly and the military is watching?”
Uchechukwu Uchechukwu, a Facebook user, stated that it occurred at a border, but the soldiers present were unable to fire shots to respect border sovereignty laws.
“I have seen this clip, and I can tell you that that is one of the borders. And those army checkpoints are in the Nigerian territory, while the terrorists were in another country, yet to enter Nigeria’s territory. That’s why they didn’t open fire. Respecting border sovereignty(laws). Understand stories first before posting insightful stories,” he said.
Considering the sensitive nature of this claim and its virality, DUBAWA decided to step in with this fact check.
Verification
We conducted a reverse image search, which led to a Facebook account belonging to Odeh Prince. Odeh, Founder and CEO at Greatmind Films Production, posted the first version of the video on Jan. 6, 2026, from a movie set.
Contrary to the viral versions, he included a written disclaimer that clarified that the scene was staged.
“NB: This is behind the scenes. It’s a movie set. This is not real,” he wrote.
Apart from this footage, Odeh also shared other clips of actors dressed as soldiers and terrorists from the movie set, as seen here, here, here, and here.
On Jan. 13, 2026, he also posted to clarify the claim being circulated.
He wrote, “Please, guys, I want you to understand that my previous video that’s going viral is a movie set… As you can see, it’s the same ISWAP flag, and we’re in the same location here… The Nigerian Army are very smart, and they can’t just watch bandits operate without engaging them. Thank you.”
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that the viral footage originated from Odeh’s post and was subsequently used by bloggers to promote an alternative narrative. The claim is, therefore, misleading.
