Army, Police Debunk Viral Report of 111 Deaths in Sokoto Attack

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 alleged attack on a community in Sokoto State.

The report, circulated by a Facebook page, Hausaland Magazine, on October 5, 2026, alleged that gunmen attacked a community identified as “Garin Gobir Gindin,” killing over 100 civilians, 10 soldiers and a Mobile Police officer, while abducting several residents.

The publication described the alleged incident as “genocide” and a “war on Hausa,” blaming the attack on suspected Fulani terrorists and claiming that the number of casualties was increasing.

It also featured an image of several motionless individuals, some wearing military-style clothing, which attracted comments from social media users, including inflammatory remarks directed at ethnic groups.

However, security authorities have rejected the allegations, insisting that no such mass-casualty attack occurred in Sokoto State.

Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, dismissed the report, saying there was no attack involving the alleged number of casualties in the state.

Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufa’i, said the incident did not occur in Sokoto.

Security checks also found no verified reports of a mass-casualty incident matching the details circulated by the Facebook page. Investigations further indicated that there was no record of a community known as “Garin Gobir Gindin” in the state.

The viral publication also contained a date inconsistency, claiming the attack occurred on Tuesday, October 5, 2026, although the date fell on a Monday.

Meanwhile, a separate attack was reported on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where suspected bandits reportedly killed two people and injured another.

The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the separate incident, which differs significantly from the mass-casualty allegations circulated online.

The incident highlights the importance of verifying security-related information before sharing it, particularly reports involving alleged mass killings and claims capable of escalating ethnic tensions.