Social media went abuzz on Friday following viral reports claiming that the U.S. Department of Defense was “preparing for action in Nigeria” in response to security concerns.
The claim, attributed to a supposed “Secretary of War” named Pete Hegseth, quickly gained traction across X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms. However, no official statement has been issued by the Pentagon or the U.S. government, and the United States does not currently have a Department of War — the agency was renamed the Department of Defense more than seven decades ago.
Analysts have cautioned Nigerians to verify such claims before sharing, noting that misinformation about foreign intervention often spreads during tense political or security periods.
As of press time, both the Nigerian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Embassy in Abuja have made no comment on the viral post.