The Nigerian Army and the Sokoto State Police Command have dismissed a viral social media report claiming that more than 100 civilians and 11 security personnel were killed in an attack on a community in Sokoto State.
The claim, circulated by a Facebook page identified as Hausaland Magazine on October 5, alleged that armed men had attacked a community called “Garin Gobir Gindin”, killing more than 100 civilians, 10 soldiers and a Mobile Police officer while abducting several others.
The publication described the alleged incident as a “genocide” and “war on Hausa”, attributing the attack to “Fulani terrorists”.
It was accompanied by an image showing several motionless individuals, some wearing military-style clothing, and generated comments in which some social media users appeared to amplify the allegations.
However, security authorities said there was no record of such an attack in Sokoto State.
Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, said there was no attack matching the description.
“There was no such attack involving the reported mass casualties in the state,” he said.
The Sokoto State Police Command also rejected the report.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufa’i, said: “This incident did not occur within Sokoto.”
Investigations further found that there was no community known as “Garin Gobir Gindin” in the state, as identified in the viral report.
There was also a discrepancy in the date provided by the publication. While the report claimed the attack occurred on Tuesday, October 5, 2026, that date was actually a Monday.
Checks of security reports across the North-West also found no mass-casualty incident corresponding to the description circulated online.
However, a separate attack was reported in Sokoto State on Sunday, October 4.
According to the security authorities, bandits attacked Ungushi village in Kebbe Local Government Area, killing two people and injuring another.
The incident was confirmed by the Sokoto State Police Command.
The authorities’ clarification comes amid concerns over the circulation of unverified reports of insecurity on social media, particularly claims involving alleged mass killings and attacks with ethnic or communal dimensions.
