Social media has been flooded in recent hours with videos purporting to show a major terrorist attack on a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base on February 1, 2026. The clips depict armed militants on motorcycles overrunning an airbase, destroying aircraft, and facing little resistance. However, these reports are false. No attack occurred on any Nigerian Air Force facility on that date or in recent days . The footage actually originates from an Islamic State-claimed assault on an airbase in Niger (the neighboring country), not Nigeria.

The misinformation appears to stem from a common source of confusion: the similar names of Nigeria and Niger, two West African nations with shared borders and ongoing security challenges from jihadist groups. The viral videos, widely shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and Facebook, have been captioned with claims such as “Terrorists attack Nigerian Air Force base” or “NAF base overrun.” Some posts even added inflammatory details, including fabricated religious slogans or exaggerated casualty figures, but none align with verified events in Nigeria.

What Actually Happened: The Attack in Niger

The videos circulated by Islamic State’s Sahel Province (IS-Sahel) show militants launching a coordinated assault on Airbase 101 at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger’s capital, late on January 28 into January 29, 2026. The attack involved dozens of gunmen on motorcycles, heavy weaponry, and reportedly drones. IS-Sahel propaganda described it as a “surprise and coordinated attack” that inflicted heavy losses on Nigerien forces and damaged aircraft, including civilian planes from foreign carriers.

Niger’s military confirmed the incident, reporting that security forces repelled the attackers, killing at least 20 gunmen while suffering four wounded personnel. The junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, accused foreign governments (including France, Benin, and Ivory Coast) of involvement, a claim denied by those countries. The assault marked one of the most audacious operations by IS-Sahel in recent years, targeting a strategic civilian-military airport hub.

Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger (shown above in recent images of its modernized terminal), is a dual-use facility hosting both civilian flights and military aviation assets. The attack damaged infrastructure and aircraft but did not result in the complete overrun seen in some edited or out-of-context clips.

The proximity of Niger and Nigeria both facing jihadist threats from groups like IS-Sahel, Boko Haram, and ISWAP combined with the phonetic similarity of their names, makes mix-ups common. Social media algorithms amplify sensational content, and in a region with real security concerns, unverified videos can spread rapidly before clarification. As of February 2, 2026, the Nigerian Air Force remains focused on counter-terrorism operations with no reported breaches at its bases. Authorities have not issued a specific statement on this viral claim, likely because it is geographically unrelated.