The only “proof” of Tchiani’s fairytales came from a video shared by Mahdi Shehu, a disreputable social commentator. Shehu alleged that France was training Nigerian soldiers and claimed this as evidence of collaboration to destabilise Niger. However, a fact-check by Daily Trust revealed the video to be from 2013, showing Nigerian troops arriving in Mali as part of an ECOWAS peacekeeping mission alongside French forces. This revelation undermined assertions of Shehu and his co-travellers in his rush to popularise Tchiani’s narrative. In pursuit of evidence, local and foreign journalists, drawn by the allure of a “juicy story,” visited communities near the Niger-Nigeria border allegedly hosting French military bases. What they found instead was a compelling rejection of Tchiani’s propaganda. In locations like Ruwa Wuri, Balle, and Gada, residents unanimously denied the existence of foreign military activity. Vox pops and interviews painted a picture that directly contradicted the junta’s claims.