Misleading Video of Collapsed Bridge Misattributed to Nigeria
A video circulating on social media, which appears to show a woman zip-lining across a collapsed bridge, has been inaccurately claimed to be from Nigeria. In reality, this footage originates from Darfur, Sudan, and depicts a bridge that collapsed in August 2024 due to flooding.
The video was shared widely on Facebook on August 9, 2025, and has garnered over 2,000 shares. The narrator describes the dire circumstances faced by individuals attempting to cross a river without a bridge, stating, “This is not a scene from a movie; this is the harsh reality of Nigeria. Every day, people cross this river, risking their lives.” Such dramatic claims have sparked mixed reactions in the comment section, with some users expressing skepticism about the video’s authenticity while others lamented the deteriorating infrastructure in Nigeria. One comment poignantly questioned, “Giant of Africa, why…where is the oil money?”
In June 2025, Nigeria experienced severe flooding, leading to the destruction of three bridges in the Mokwa area of Niger State, resulting in approximately 150 fatalities, according to reports from trusted sources. Despite these tragic events, the specific incident depicted in the viral video did not occur in Nigeria.
A thorough investigation revealed the actual source of the video. Using Google Lens for a reverse image search, it was traced back to a post by UNICEF Sudan in September 2024, which features the same bridge. At the 10-second mark of that video, a man can be seen zip-lining across the river, confirming the location as Sudan.
Further corroboration came from a post by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which identified the bridge as a critical connection point among West, Central, and South Darfur. An online search led to a report from Radio Dabanga in August 2024, detailing the collapse of four significant bridges due to flooding, including the Azum Valley Bridge over the Wadi Barei river. This bridge was crucial for linking various states in the region.
Fact-checking efforts by AFP revealed that the bridge in question, along with its surrounding landscape, matched the visuals in the viral video. The most recent satellite imagery from Google Earth, dated May 5, 2023, confirmed the bridge’s condition prior to its collapse.
The dissemination of this misleading video underscores the importance of verifying information, especially in the context of natural disasters and humanitarian crises. As communities in both Sudan and Nigeria grapple with the consequences of flooding, it is essential to ensure accurate reporting to provide a clear understanding of the challenges faced by these regions.
