Fact Check: Has France Set Up a Military Base in Nigeria to Combat Boko Haram at Tinubu’s Request?
Claim:
The claims, made by social media activist Mahdi Shehu on his X (Twitter) account, suggested that a French military base had been set up in the region.
Shehu accompanied his post with a video showing an army officer alongside a foreign military personnel, which he claimed was evidence of the base’s existence.
Mahdi Shehu’s post, which has generated about 2,000 reposts and 300,000 views, claims that France has begun deploying military forces in Nigeria under the guise of assisting in the fight against Boko Haram, despite official denials from Nigerian authorities. He argues this deployment will lead to the establishment of French military bases in strategic locations like Maiduguri, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kogi, ostensibly to combat insurgencies but with ulterior motives of exploiting Nigeria’s mineral resources. Shehu suggests that this marks a shift in Nigeria’s sovereignty, framing it as a new colony for France, facilitated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged desperation to secure power and protection. He criticizes the Nigerian military for acquiescing to this development, portraying it as a betrayal of their duty to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity.
Verification:
To verify the claim, PRNigeria fact check used facial recognition software to run a deep image search on the foreign military personnel flanking the Nigerian Army officer which Mahdi claimed was his evidence of the French base’s existence.
Findings identified the individual was non other than Colonel Martin Leach, a prominent figure in the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT). He serves as the Commander of BMATT and has been instrumental in fostering partnerships between the British military and Nigerian institutions.
Based on the findings, PRNigeria ran keyword searches of the name and findings was further reinforced by various reports on Nigerian news and other institution platforms. For instance in March 2024, Colonel Leach led a delegation from the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) on courtesy visit to the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy,(NDA) Major General JO Ochai, at the NDA Headquarters, where they discussed possible areas of partnership between NDA and BMATT.
Similarly, in August 2024, Leach led BMATT to donate a state-of-the-art Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Training Village to the 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) Training School (DTS) in Owode, Ogun State. The facility was designed to enhance practical training in counterterrorism and counter insurgency operations.
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Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Sani Mohammed, praised the longstanding collaboration between the Nigerian Army and BMATT. He noted that joint training efforts, such as Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) handling, Special Forces, and Basic Infantry training, have yielded positive results.
Also, in October 2024, the Nigerian Army through Colonel Martin Leach received non-lethal military equipment worth about N1 billion (£450,000) from the United Kingdom to strengthen operations against violent extremist groups in the North East.
During the official handover in Maiduguri, the equipment was presented to Major General Wahidi Shaibu, Commander of the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE).
Meanwhile, the Headquarters Theatre Command Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a French military base has been established in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, the military categorically denied the claim, stating that there is no French military base in Maiduguri or any plans to establish one in the North East.
The video referenced by Shehu, according to the statement, actually shows Brigadier General Haruna meeting with press members, with the foreign officer being a member of the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), not a French military representative. The event was related to the donation of equipment to OPHK by BMATT on October 25, 2024, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
Various news reports corroborates the official statement by the Army as Colonel Martin Leach was indeed in Maiduguri in October 2024.
The British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) in Nigeria is a team that provides military training and advisory services to the Nigerian Armed Forces. The team is based in Nigeria and has been working closely with the Nigerian military to build capacity and improve military effectiveness.
Speaking to PRNigeria on the matter, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director, Defence Information (DDI) affirmed this findings, stating that BMATT are usually training instructors not fighting troops.
“Look closely and you will see the officer in question wearing a British uniform, those are not French troops but British Army trainers who provide trainings on most equipments they supply us,” he stated.
Conclusion:
Findings by PRNigeria revealed that the foreign military personnel touted by Mahdi Shehu as his evidence of establishment of a French Military Base in Nigeria is Colonel Martin Leach, a British Military personnel and prominent figure in the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) who serves as the Commander of BMATT, not a French personnel.
PRNigeria therefore concludes that the claim made by social media activist Mahdi Shehu on his X (Twitter) account, suggesting that a French military base had been set up in the Northern region is FALSE.
By PRNigeria
