AI-generated video falsely shows Trump visiting rebuilt homes for displaced Nigerians
- Published on March 2, 2026 at 15:49
- 6 min read
- By Oluseyi AWOJULUGBE, AFP Nigeria
In June 2025, armed men attacked Yelwata in Nigeria’s Benue state, killing more than 150 people, many of them displaced residents sheltering at a local Catholic mission. Months later, American Christian missionary Alex Barbir helped rebuild 35 homes for the affected families. A video shared on social media claims to show US President Donald Trump attending the commissioning of those houses. This is false; while the event did take place, the video showing Trump in attendance is AI-generated. There have been no reports of a US presidential visit to Nigeria.
“Just in… Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo Live at YELWATA FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF 35 HOUSES REBUILT BY ALEX BARVIE (sic),” reads the caption of a video published on Facebook on February 1, 2026.
Dachomo is a Nigerian pastor and human rights advocate, while Barbir is an American humanitarian and missionary.
The clip, shared more than 450 times, shows Dachomo seemingly addressing a small group of people, including two resembling Trump and Barbir.
“Mister President, welcome to our humble village,” Dachomo appears to say in the video.
“Thank you, this is incredible, a tremendous welcome,” Trump appears to respond.
“This is Alex, one of your proud sons whom God has been using to help our people,” the reverend continues, to which Trump seemingly responds: “A tremendous young man.”
“He has rebuilt 35 affected homes for these IDPs and as you can see, they are back in their homes. I want to plead with you to give Mr Alex your support to continue his vision because of his love and passion for humanity,” Dachomo apparently concludes.
Displaced by fighting
Insecurity in Benue state in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, which began as communal clashes between farmers and cattle herders, has displaced thousands (archived here).
The initial death toll from the June 2025 attack on Yelwata was reported to be at least 45 people, but was later revised to more than 150 (archived here and here).
At a February 26, 2026, hearing for nine suspects arrested in connection with the attack, a police witness said over 100 gunmen stormed the community, burning houses and assaulting residents (archived here).
Barbir visited the community in October 2025 and rebuilt houses for the affected families after a public fundraising project (archived here and here).
Dachomo, a clergyman with the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) from Plateau state in the Middle Belt, has been outspoken about the attack on Christian communities in Nigeria, and recently appealed for foreign intervention from the US to put an end to the killings (archived here).
Nigeria-US diplomatic relations have been strained since October 2025, when Trump categorised Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern -- a designation for countries accused of violating religious rights (archived here).
Since then, the US has carried out airstrikes in Nigeria’s northwest targeting jihadists linked to the Islamic State, and deployed 100 soldiers to provide training and technical support to the Nigerian military (archived here and here).
However, the post claiming to show Trump at a recent commissioning of houses rebuilt for displaced communities in Nigeria is false.
AI-generated video
AFP Fact Check found no credible reports from local or international media organisations about Trump visiting Nigeria, nor updates from US or Nigerian government communication channels -- an unusual occurrence for what would have been a high-profile visit.
A reverse image search led to the original video published on Dachomo’s Facebook account on January 31, 2026, in which he dedicates the newly built houses (archived here).
The Facebook clip with its footage of Trump appears to have been lifted from the original video at the 5’20” mark. Dachomo’s speech is different in the original video.
“He has provided us with these houses, 35 houses, and we want to give it back to him. This is why we have asked you to come and join us to pray over it today,” he says.
Barbir also shared an excerpt of the video on his Instagram page (archived here).
“The cries of Nigerians are ringing, but where are the cries of the world? Where are world leaders? Where is the church? Where is your fellow Christian raising the trumpets against injustice and oppression? Children are burned. Throats are slit. Villages razed by fire. Shall we allow Nigerians to be extinguished?” the post reads.
Trump does not appear in any of the original videos.
The fabricated clip also contains visual inconsistencies typical of AI-generated content.
In one instance, the reverend can be seen holding one side of a book with his left hand, and yet the right side of the book remains suspended in the air without support, defying gravity.
A man standing behind Barbir initially appears to be wearing a blue shirt. At the six-second mark, the colour of the shirt changes to black.
At the end of the video, Trump appears to raise his hand for a handshake, but then drops it back down without making contact with anyone -- a common glitch in AI-generated footage.
Dachomo’s and Trump’s voices sound robotic and oddly paced. Their lip movements also appear unnatural and fall out of sync with the audio in several sections. Notably, Trump’s voice differs significantly between his two responses, further suggesting digital manipulation.
An analysis of the audio extracted from the video using the Hiya AI detection tool suggested a high probability that it was created using artificial intelligence.
AFP Fact Check has debunked other claims about Nigeria’s insecurity here and here.
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