Nigeria’s Presidency has firmly rejected a viral social media screenshot falsely attributed to United States President Donald Trump, describing it as fabricated and designed to mislead the public.
Presidential media aide Sunday Dare issued the rebuttal on X, dismissing the circulating image and urging Nigerians not to fall for manipulated content.
Dare supported his position with a visual comparison that exposed clear inconsistencies in the widely shared post.
He emphasised that the message, which criticised President Bola Tinubu over insecurity while he was engaged in the United Kingdom, did not originate from any legitimate or verified source.
Independent checks found no trace of such a statement on any official platform linked to Trump, further eroding the credibility of the viral claim.
The disputed post had accused Tinubu of poor leadership, referenced violent incidents in Nigeria’s North East, and alleged widespread casualties and destruction in Maiduguri, framing the situation as a full blown national crisis.
The controversy emerged against the backdrop of a deadly wave of coordinated explosions that rocked Maiduguri shortly after evening prayers, targeting busy public spaces and triggering widespread panic.
Security officials confirmed that dozens of civilians lost their lives, with many others sustaining injuries in attacks linked to extremist groups active in the region.
An earlier assault on a military formation in the Ajilari area had signalled a dangerous escalation in hostilities.
Tinubu had condemned the violence, describing the attacks as deeply distressing and reflective of desperate tactics by insurgents facing mounting pressure from security forces.
“These acts are tragic, but they will not weaken our resolve,” he declared, pledging continued efforts to restore stability to the region.
The President also directed senior security and intelligence officials to relocate to Maiduguri to strengthen operational coordination and accelerate counterterrorism efforts on the ground.
