The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has debunked a viral social media video alleging that some of its students were arrested for collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents.

The widely circulated video, shared mainly on Facebook and WhatsApp, claimed that security operatives arrested students of the institution for allegedly serving as informants to Boko Haram in exchange for money.

The less than two-minute clip was presented as a split-screen video, showing a content creator narrating the claims on one side, while security personnel were seen parading suspects on the other. The narrator alleged that the individuals shown were UNIMAID students whose names were on the payroll of Boko Haram.

“See some students wey dey work hand in hand with Boko Haram in University of Maiduguri. Thank God hand don catch them,” the content creator said in Pidgin English, insisting that the suspects were informants for the terrorist group.

Reacting to the claims, the University of Maiduguri, in a press release dated January 13, 2026, and signed by its Registrar, Ahmad A. Lawan, described the video as false, misleading, and disturbing.

The university stated that the allegations were totally baseless, false, and mischievous, stressing that no student of the University of Maiduguri has been found to have links with Boko Haram or any similar extremist group.

UNIMAID management further emphasized that the institution has zero tolerance for extremism or violence and has consistently played an active role in countering violent extremism and promoting peace, particularly in Nigeria’s North-East region.

According to the statement, the university community comprises disciplined and law-abiding staff and students from diverse backgrounds, all focused on academic excellence and personal development. It added that UNIMAID students are trained in both character and learning and have consistently demonstrated good conduct.

The institution urged parents, guardians, and the general public to disregard the video and refrain from spreading misinformation, warning that such false narratives could cause reputational damage and undermine peace and security efforts.

Reaffirming its stance, the University of Maiduguri stated that it remains committed to academic excellence, moral discipline, and the promotion of peace, security, and national unity.