By Pascal Ibe
Claim
A TikTok video has shown the news of the deployment of Nigerian soldiers for peace support in Israel.
Verdict
This claim is FALSE. Findings by FACTWATCH Nigeria showed that this video was AI-generated.
Full Text
TikTok’s design, where future content is driven largely by past interactions with similar content, contributes to the rapid spread of misinformation. Users who engage with misleading content are more likely to be shown similar videos, creating an echo chamber where misinformation flourishes.
Israel’s surprise attack on targets across Iran on Friday has been followed by three days of escalating strikes, as both sides threatened more devastation in the biggest ever confrontation between the longstanding enemies.
The conflict between Iran and Israel has escalated significantly and is currently in its sixth day as of June 18, 2025.
Israel has been carrying out extensive airstrikes inside Iran, reportedly targeting nuclear sites (including centrifuge production facilities and underground enrichment halls at Natanz), military leadership, weapons manufacturing sites, and critical infrastructure such as the Defense Ministry headquarters and state television facilities. Both sides have reported casualties with Iran counting more huge numbers of deaths
A TikTok user, @Zeeeekkkeeee has posted a video showing news of the deployment of Nigerian troops for peace support in Israel.
In the 45-second video with a TBC news background, an unarmed male news presenter said Nigeria is sending troops for a joint peace support mission in Israel.
Part of the caption attached to the video reads, “BREAKING: Nigeria Deploys Troops in Support of Israel’s Peace Operations
In a surprise turn of diplomatic events, the Nigerian government has launched what officials are calling a “Joint Peace Support Program” with Israel.
“Footage obtained by TBC News shows Nigerian troops being mobilized and briefed for a non-combative, cooperative training mission overseas.
“According to the Defense Ministry, this effort is part of a larger African-led initiative aimed at promoting regional security partnerships and defense diplomacy.
The post by @zeeeekkkeeee has already generated over 15k reactions and more than 3k reposts with 2.1k comments on TikTok.
Verification
First, a thorough search by FACTWATCH Nigeria indicated that there’s no news organization or Television station known as TBC News in Nigeria. Rather TVC News. This is an indication that the TikTok video does not have any business with the truth.
When we subjected the cut-out 18-second part of the video to an AI detection device, results from Hive Moderation showed that the video was 99% AI-generated.
No report by any reputable news organizations in Nigeria corroborated this claim.
What the Nigerian government has done
Last week, the federal government condemned Israel’s “pre-emptive” strike on Iran, which triggered an escalation of hostilities between the two countries.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the sustained missile and aerial exchanges across Iranian and Israeli territories pose “grave threats” to regional and global peace.
On June 17, the Nigerian government announced that it is finalising emergency evacuation plans for Nigerian citizens stranded in Israel and Iran following the recent escalation of hostilities between the two nations.
According to a statement, Nigerian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tehran are actively reaching out to affected citizens and coordinating efforts to ensure their safe return.
Conclusion
The TikTok video showing the news of the deployment of Nigerian troops to Israel was AI-driven despite massive reposts by the users.
