Claim: A viral YouTube video claims that the US government issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government to release Nnamdi Kanu. Verdict: False. The claim is fabricated as the video is AI-generated. Background Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, is in conflict with the Federal Government of Nigeria over demands for Biafra’s independence, leading to
Claim: A viral YouTube video claims that the US government issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government to release Nnamdi Kanu.
Verdict: False. The claim is fabricated as the video is AI-generated.
Background
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, is in conflict with the Federal Government of Nigeria over demands for Biafra’s independence, leading to legal disputes and security issues in the South-East.
On November 20, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by James Omotosho, convicted Kanu on seven counts of terrorism-related offences.
On November 28, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja struck out Kanu’s appeal, ruling it without merit and academic following his life imprisonment sentence.
The verdict triggered waves of reactions, including condemnation from civil society, calls for political solutions, and legal resistance from Kanu’s defence, which argued that constitutional and legal irregularities had occurred.
These reactions sparked viral stories, including a YouTube video alleging that the US government gave a 24-hour ultimatum to release Kanu.
As of the time of investigation, the video had generated 3,000 likes and 165 comments, some with caustic impressions.
In the 11-second video, a news presenter, purportedly on the BBC platform, claims:
“Breaking News: The United States Government has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government, demanding the release of the IPOB leader.
see the screenshot of the video below:
Given recent tensions between the US and Nigerian governments, NDRFactCheck investigated the veracity of this claim.
Verification
A review of the US Department of State website and official communications yielded no evidence that the US government or any high-level official issued a “24-hour ultimatum” to Nigeria demanding Kanu’s release.
While U.S. Republican Congressman John James publicly linked Kanu’s conviction to claims of persecution of Christians in Nigeria, this does not constitute an official ultimatum.
Again, while Diaspora communities and other groups have called for international attention and intervention, these are private advocacy efforts, not official government directives.
A deepfake voice detector confirmed the presenter’s voice was artificial, and image checks suggested the faces may have been AI-altered.
Figure 1Result of digital verification of the video on Hiya’s deepfake voice detector
NDRFactCheck’s investigation showed that the same audio clip went viral on social media in December 2024 and was debunked by Reuters as false.
Conclusion
The US did not issue a 24-hour ultimatum to Nigeria to release Nnamdi Kanu. The circulating video is AI-generated, with no evidence of official U.S. action demanding his release.
