After President Bola Tinubu’ s recent visit to France, speculation began to circulate suggesting that the French military was planning to establish a base in Nigeria.....Click Here To Read Full Article >>
The rumour, fuelled by political tension and mistrust between France and several West African nations, has continued to gain traction, despite official denials from the Nigerian government.
The claims intensified on Wednesday when General Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of the Niger Republic, alleged that President Tinubu had received a significant payment from France, and that a French military base had been set up in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
These allegations have been widely discussed across various media platforms, stirring concerns about Nigeria’ s growing relationship with France amid increasing anti- French sentiments in the region.
In the midst of this controversy, social commentator and activist Mahdi Shehu released a video that he claimed proved the presence of French military personnel in Nigeria.
The video, which Shehu posted with the caption: ” FGN SHOULD STOP THE DENIAL: FRANCE ARMED FORCES NOW THE OFFICIAL TRAINERS OF NIGERIA ARMED FORCES, ” suggested that the Nigerian government and its officials were misleading the public about French military involvement in Nigeria.
Shehu’ s post went on to accuse President Tinubu and senior Nigerian officials, including service chiefs, of betraying the country by allowing French military influence. He argued that such actions were undermining Nigeria’ s sovereignty, calling on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist foreign interference. He further condemned the Nigerian leadership for allegedly opening the door to French forces while other African nations, such as Niger, were expelling them.
However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that the video Shehu attached to his post was not recent. A thorough investigation by Daily Trust revealed that the footage was recorded in 2013 during a peacekeeping mission in Mali.
The video shows Nigerian Army personnel, who were part of the African- led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), disembarking at Senou International Airport in Bamako, Mali. These troops were deployed to assist French forces in combating militants in northern Mali.
The footage, which was uploaded to YouTube by the Associated Press in 2015, depicted the Nigerian contingent arriving alongside troops from other ECOWAS member states, including Togo and Benin. A French Colonel present at the airport mentioned the arrival of troops from various countries, including 156 Nigerian soldiers.
The troops were part of a wider regional effort to counter terrorism in the Sahel region, specifically in Mali, where French forces had been leading operations against Islamist insurgents.
In the video, a Nigerian Army General also discussed the training Nigerian troops received in counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations, but there was no mention of any current French military presence in Nigeria.
The video, which was captured over a decade ago, has no relevance to the current situation in Nigeria. Mahdi Shehu’ s claims, therefore, have been debunked as false and misleading. There is no evidence to support the assertion that French troops are currently training Nigerian soldiers or that a French military base has been established in Maiduguri.
This false narrative comes at a time when the relationship between France and some West African countries, particularly in the Sahel region, has soured due to various political and military disagreements.
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France’ s intervention in the region, including its role in combating terrorism, has been met with growing resistance in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, leading to increased anti- French sentiment. The spread of unverified claims and misinformation only adds to the confusion surrounding France’ s role in West Africa and its relations with African governments.
The Nigerian government has maintained that no French military base has been set up in Nigeria and has dismissed the allegations as baseless. As tensions continue to simmer, it is crucial for citizens to critically assess such claims and rely on verified information to avoid falling prey to misleading narratives.
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