A viral video featuring Prof. Dr. Philip Njemanze has sparked widespread debate after the academic made a series of claims linking Nigeria’s insecurity, including the Boko Haram insurgency, to alleged foreign interests rather than solely religious extremism.
In the video, Prof. Njemanze alleged that foreign biotechnology companies and private military contractors were involved in recruiting, funding, and training insurgents operating in Nigeria. He claimed the fighters were brought into the country through neighbouring nations, including Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, and received financial support for their activities.
The professor also alleged the involvement of a private security company formerly known as Blackwater, now Academi, although he did not present publicly verifiable evidence to support the claims.
During his remarks, Njemanze cited casualty figures he attributed to the Council on Foreign Relations, arguing that a large percentage of those killed during the insurgency were Muslims. He questioned narratives suggesting the violence was solely aimed at promoting religious extremism.
The video further referenced comments previously made by United States Congressman Scott Perry regarding USAID funding, alleging that financial support had reached terrorist groups, including Boko Haram. Similar claims have circulated online in recent months.
The individual who shared the video urged Nigerians to reject religious division and instead focus on what he described as the broader forces behind insecurity in the country.
The video has since generated mixed reactions on social media, with some users calling for further investigation into the allegations, while others urged caution against accepting unverified claims relating to national security.
Independent reviews of the claims have found that there is currently no publicly available evidence from Nigerian security agencies, the United Nations, or other internationally recognised investigative bodies linking Blackwater, Academi, or biotechnology companies to the creation or funding of Boko Haram.
Similarly, while Boko Haram and ISWAP have been responsible for large numbers of civilian deaths—many of them Muslims in Nigeria’s North-East—the specific casualty figures cited in the video could not be independently verified.
Fact-checking organisations have also reported that allegations linking USAID funding directly to Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations have not been supported by publicly available evidence.
The viral video continues to fuel public discussion, with experts encouraging Nigerians to rely on verified information from credible sources when assessing claims related to national security.
