The Nigerian Army and the Sokoto State Police Command have debunked a viral social media report claiming that more than 100 civilians, 10 soldiers and a Mobile Police officer were killed in an alleged attack on a community in Sokoto State.
The claim, published by a Facebook page, Hausaland Magazine, on October 5, 2026, alleged that armed men attacked a community identified as “Garin Gobir Gindin”, killing more than 100 civilians and security personnel and kidnapping several others.
The post, which described the alleged incident as a “genocide” and a “war on Hausa”, attributed the attack to “Fulani terrorists” and claimed that the death toll was rising.
The viral post included an image showing several motionless individuals, some dressed in military-style clothing and others in civilian attire. It also attracted comments from social media users who appeared to accept and amplify the allegations, with some making inflammatory statements targeting ethnic groups.
As part of its verification process, a Arogidigba Global Journal correspondent searched geographical databases and community gazettes relating to Sokoto State but found no record of a community known as “Garin Gobir Gindin”.
The investigation also identified a discrepancy in the date stated in the post. Although the publication claimed the attack occurred on Tuesday, October 5, 2026, that date fell on a Monday.
As part of efforts to establish the authenticity of the claim, the correspondent conducted a Google reverse-image search to establish the image’s origin and determine whether it had previously appeared online in connection with another incident. However, the search produced no credible source linking the image to the alleged attack in Sokoto.
Reacting to the report, the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division and Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, dismissed the allegation.
“There was no such attack involving the reported mass casualties in the state,” he said.
Similarly, the Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufai, refuted the claim.
“This incident did not occur within Sokoto,” he said.
The false report has raised concerns about the potential spread of misinformation that could heighten ethnic tensions, provoke hostility and create unnecessary panic, particularly in communities already affected by insecurity.