Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Army and the Sokoto State Police Command have dismissed a viral social media report claiming that 111 people, including more than 100 civilians and 11 security personnel, were killed in an alleged attack on a community in Sokoto State.
The report, circulated by a Facebook page identified as Hausaland Magazine on October 5, 2026, alleged that armed men attacked a community called “Garin Gobir Gindin”, killing civilians, 10 soldiers and a Mobile Police officer, while abducting several residents.
The post described the alleged incident as a “genocide” and a “war on Hausa”, attributing the attack to armed Fulani men. Its claims triggered reactions on social media, including comments targeting ethnic groups.
However, security authorities have denied that an attack involving the reported casualties occurred in Sokoto State.
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, dismissed the allegation, stating that there was no attack involving the reported mass casualties in the state.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufa’i, said the incident did not occur within Sokoto.
Checks reported by media outlets also found no record of a community known as “Garin Gobir Gindin”. The viral post contained a date inconsistency, describing October 5, 2026, as a Tuesday, although the date fell on a Monday. The image attached to the claim also could not be reliably linked to the alleged incident.
The denial comes amid continuing security challenges in parts of Sokoto State. In a separate incident on Sunday, October 4, bandits reportedly killed two people and injured another in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area. That incident was confirmed by the police, but its reported casualties do not match the figures in the viral post.
The episode highlights the risks of sharing unverified claims about mass killings, particularly when they include inflammatory ethnic descriptions that could heighten tensions.
Members of the public are advised to verify reports of major security incidents through credible news organisations and official statements before sharing them.
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