A Facebook user, Tijani Salisu, shared an image claiming bandits recently attacked a market in Kebbi State and killed over 50 people. The post, which was archived, generated 29 likes and 4 comments as of September 22, 2026. Other users in the comments believed the claim, with some urging the government to curb the growing insecurity in the country. The claim's potential to heighten tension and fear among citizens, particularly in Kebbi State, prompted DUBAWA to verify it.
DUBAWA conducted keyword searches to verify the report of a recent attack on a market in Kebbi that claimed 50 lives. The search yielded no recent reports of any market raid or mass casualty incident in the state. However, a communal clash between Fulani and Kambari groups in Lafagu village, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, occurred on Sunday, September 20, 2026, claiming 15 lives, including that of a traditional ruler. The Commissioner of police in Kebbi State, Umar Muhammad, revealed that six suspects were arrested in connection with the killings.
DUBAWA ran a reverse-image search on the photograph attached to the post, tracing the image to news coverage of a bandit attack on the Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, which occurred on January 3, 2026. The attack resulted in no fewer than 30 persons being killed, and the attackers carted away foodstuffs and other valuables worth millions of naira before setting the market ablaze.
Several media houses, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Al Jazeera, Truth Nigeria, and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), published follow-up reports on January 5, 2026, regarding the incident. The reports confirmed that the attack occurred in Niger State, not Kebbi State. DUBAWA contacted the PRO of the Kebbi State Police Command, who categorically denied the claim, saying, "Nothing of the sort happened in Kebbi State. It's false."
DUBAWA also reviewed the Kebbi State Government's official communication handles and contacted residents across local communities in the state, all of whom confirmed there was no such attack on a market in the state. The findings indicate that the claim was false, and the image used to support it was from an unrelated incident.
The Kebbi State Police Command's denial of the claim and the lack of evidence supporting it led DUBAWA to conclude that the claim was false. The incident in Niger State, which occurred in January 2026, was unrelated to the Facebook claim.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) implements the fellowship that enabled DUBAWA to investigate and verify the claim, with support from the European Union. The verification process aimed to curb the spread of misinformation and ensure the accuracy of reports on security incidents in Nigeria.
Key points
- The claim that bandits killed over 50 people in a market in Kebbi State is false.
- The image used to support the claim was from a bandit attack on a market in Niger State, which occurred on January 3, 2026.
- The Kebbi State Police Command denied the claim, stating that no such attack occurred in the state.
