Claims circulating on social media that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced plans to establish a military base in South-East Nigeria have been debunked as false and misleading.
Checks by independent fact-checking team of INNONEWS show that Netanyahu never made such a statement, contrary to viral videos and posts suggesting that Israel intends to site a military installation in the region.
The reports, which gained traction across social media platforms, alleged that the Israeli leader promised to build a military base in South-East Nigeria as part of a broader security arrangement. However, available records of Netanyahu’s public remarks do not support the claim.
Findings indicate that the Israeli Prime Minister had made general comments about strengthening support and cooperation to protect Christian communities in parts of the Middle East and Africa, with Nigeria mentioned among several countries. Crucially, there was no reference to the establishment of a foreign military base, deployment of Israeli troops, or any formal military agreement with Nigeria.
Fact-checkers who reviewed the videos linked to the claim confirmed that the statements were either taken out of context or deliberately misrepresented to suggest a military intention that was never expressed.
Security analysts note that the establishment of a foreign military base in Nigeria would require extensive diplomatic, legislative, and constitutional processes, none of which have been initiated or publicly discussed by the Nigerian government.
The Nigerian authorities have also not issued any statement indicating discussions or agreements with Israel regarding a military base in any part of the country.
Observers warn that the spread of unverified security-related claims could heighten tensions and fuel misinformation, particularly in regions already grappling with political and security sensitivities.
The claim that Israel plans to establish a military base in South-East Nigeria is therefore unfounded and should be treated as misinformation.
