• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home Fact-Check FACT-CHECK: Is French Government Using ‘Drone Bird’ to Spy on Franco-Phone and...
  • Fact-Check

FACT-CHECK: Is French Government Using ‘Drone Bird’ to Spy on Franco-Phone and West African  Countries?

By
Prnigeria
-
January 12, 2024

FACT-CHECK: Is French Government Using ‘Drone Bird’ to Spy on Franco-Phone and West African  Countries?

CLAIM: A widely circulated WhatsApp message claims that the French government has created a novel ‘drone bird’ technology to spy on its former colonies and West African nations, following the recent coup in Niger.

FULL-TEXT: The text that accompanied the footage of the ‘drone bird’ flapping its wings reads, “This ???? is not a bird, if you see it anywhere around you, PLEASE be kind enough to shoot it down by *”ALL”* means possible and available to you… 

“They were chiefly developed by the French, to spy the francophone countries and our neighbors of West African countries after the coup in Niger. But now currently adopted by the terrorists around the sub-saharan regions of Africa [sic].

“So be at alert, because it’s been spotted around some villages in Minna (Niger State), Kaduna, Plateau and Bauchi remote areas. It is alleged to be sent to fly over, scan and see into the villages where  population is substantial, so that Boko Haram, Bandits or kidnappers will strike and kill and maim [sic].

Meanwhile, the French army had used birds of prey in 2017 to take down drones to protect its air bases and secure public airspace in case a drone posed a threat.

France 24 published, “Eagles were first used by the Dutch police force to intercept drones used by criminals and terrorists. Inspired by this success, the French military began training eagles for military programmes.

“A drone means food for these birds,” Gerald Machoukow, the military base’s falconer, told FRANCE 24’s Fanny Allard. 

“Now they automatically go after them,” he said.

Read Also:

  • Pantami Foundation Graduates 250 Gombe Youths in Tech, Entrepreneurship
  • Tinubu Orders NAHCON to Reduce 2026 Hajj Fares
  • Security Operatives Nab Influencers Over Defamatory Campaign Against Senator Shehu Buba

In 2013, Egyptian authorities detained a bird on suspicion of spying after spotting an electronic device tied to its leg. 

However, they subsequently found that the apparatus was a wildlife tracker used by French scientists to study the movement of migrating birds.

VERIFICATION: Through Invid Verifier, PRNigeria dissected the footage, conducting a reverse image search on the bird-drone.

The findings revealed that the video originated from a TikTok user who captioned it, ‘The bird you see in the future may just be a toy.’ 

PRNigeria observes that the TikTok post was eventually removed, indicating its unavailability after multiple attempts to watch it.

The flying bird is a radio-controlled pterodactyl, developed by Ohio-based PaulG Toys, that actually flies by flapping its wings and emits a terrifyingly realistic pterodactyl screech. Its eyes light up red when it’s powered up, making it even more menacing. 

The Flying Pterodactyl’s battery works for 15 to 20 minutes of flight time, and can be swapped for a fully-charged optional extra battery on the spot. The bird has an operational range of 500 meters. If and when it crashes upon the death of its battery, its wing and leg joints pop off so they don’t get irreversibly damaged.

CONCLUSION: Based on the facts gathered by PRNigeria, there is no substantive evidence to confirm the claim that the French government invented a novel technology ‘drone bird’ to spy on their former colonies and West African countries.

The video of the bird-drone, known as ‘Flying Pterodactyl’ is a toy produced for entertainment and amusement.

PRNigeria, therefore, concludes that the claim that the French government had developed a bird-drone technology to spy on its former colonies and West African countries is Misleading.

By PRNigeria 

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Drone Bird
  • French Colonies
  • French Government
  • Spy
  • West Africa
Previous articleZamfara Ambush: Last Straw that Should Break the Camel’s Back
Next articleFact-check: Did Traditional Ruler Spray Chains of Money on a Fuji Musician Wasiu Ayinde?
Prnigeria
Prnigeria

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

How Irabor’s Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko Haram

GWA Award Winners 2025

PHOTOS: Nigeria Customs, IMPR Bag Back-to-Back Golden World Award at IPRA 70th Anniversary

Customs, NCC Strengthen Alliance on Device Monitoring, Security, Public Safety

EFCC Arrests 42 Suspected Internet Fraudsters, Recovers Laptops, Phones in Yobe

Military Foils Terrorist Attacks, Rescues Victims, Dismantles Hideouts in Sokoto, Kebbi

ICPC

ICPC Rises to 3rd Place in Transparency Index, Records Historic Leap in Integrity Score

Nigeria and the Genocide Lie That Refuses to Die By Kabir Abdulsalam

FULL TEXT INDEPENDENCE SPEECH: Tinubu Hails Nigeria’s Progress at 65 Tinubu, Lists Achievements, Promises Brighter Future

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Nigeria @ 65: Tinubu Hails Armed Forces, Claims Victory Over Boko Haram, IPOB, Bandits

Bayo Onanuga: Between Bolekaja Publicity and Public Relations

Nigeria at 65: Tinubu Lists 12 Economic Gains of His Reforms

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

Gov Yusuf Launches N800m Youth Empowerment Scheme in Kano

Recent Posts

  • Pantami Foundation Graduates 250 Gombe Youths in Tech, Entrepreneurship
  • Tinubu Orders NAHCON to Reduce 2026 Hajj Fares
  • Security Operatives Nab Influencers Over Defamatory Campaign Against Senator Shehu Buba
  • Army Dislodges Bandits in Taraba Forests Under Operation Lafiya Nakowa
  • How Irabor’s Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko Haram
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Pantami Foundation Graduates 250 Gombe Youths in Tech, EntrepreneurshipTinubu Orders NAHCON to Reduce 2026 Hajj FaresSecurity Operatives Nab Influencers Over Defamatory Campaign Against Senator Shehu BubaArmy Dislodges Bandits in Taraba Forests Under Operation Lafiya NakowaHow Irabor's Book Launch Became National Security Summit as Obasanjo, Jonathan, Kukah, Sultan Spoke on Boko HaramNigerian Army Denies Losing Weapons to Bandits in Kwara OperationUba Sani Releases ₦2.3bn for Retirees and Families of Deceased WorkersGroup Urges CBN to Scrap 2% Service Charge on Hajj Fare to Reduce Pilgrimage CostNDLEA Dismantles Cocaine Cartels Behind UK Shipments, Arrests Suspects, Destroys 25,000kg Skunk NationwideKano Gov't Investigates Alleged Diversion of N4bn Dala Inland Dry Port FundsACF Warns of Alleged Plot to Cripple Dangote Refinery, Urges FG InterventionTroops Neutralise Terrorists, Repel Boko Haram Attack in BornoPHOTOS: Nigeria Customs, IMPR Bag Back-to-Back Golden World Award at IPRA 70th AnniversaryTroops Nab Terrorists’ Logistics, Drug Suppliers in BornoS/Arabia-Trained Graduates to Begin Forum on Sustainable Development
X whatsapp