A Facebook user, Nigerian Armed Forces & Military News, shared images of Nigerian soldiers with civilian casualties on September 19, 2026, claiming they were suspected bandits captured in Niger State. The post garnered 21 comments, 326 reactions, and 16 shares. Another user, The Crusader (@Armylucifer001), shared the same images on September 17, 2026, with a similar caption. The claims generated mixed reactions from commenters.
The images were subjected to Google Reverse Image Search, which revealed that they were from a rescue mission conducted by the military in Rafi LGA of Niger State. On September 15, 2026, Nigerian Army troops rescued 22 kidnapped victims in Muchiya village, Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, after receiving credible intelligence on the convergence of terrorists.
According to the Nigerian Army's statement on September 16, 2026, one of the victims, Alhaji Hassan, sustained injuries while in captivity and was taken to a clinic for treatment. The statement did not mention that any suspect was captured during the raid in the village. Several newspapers, including The Punch, Premium Times, and Peoples Gazette, reported on the rescue of the kidnapped victims in the state.
Further investigation by DUBAWA found that the images were used by various news outlets, including Leadership, Sahara Reporters, Arewa Agenda, and PRNigeria, to report the rescue incident. A keyword search for soldiers capturing suspected bandits in the state yielded no results, contradicting the claim made in the Facebook post.
The Facebook post and subsequent shares sparked debate among commenters, with some expressing skepticism and others supporting the military's efforts. DUBAWA's verification process aimed to clarify the authenticity of the images and provide accurate information to the public.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) implements the fellowship that supports DUBAWA's fact-checking efforts, with funding from the European Union. The organization's goal is to promote accurate information and combat misinformation in the media.
In conclusion, the images shared on Facebook do not show soldiers capturing bandits in Niger State, as claimed. Instead, they depict Nigerian Army troops rescuing kidnapped victims in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. DUBAWA's investigation highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation.
Key points
- The image shared on Facebook was misrepresented and actually showed Nigerian soldiers rescuing 22 kidnapped victims in Niger State.
- The Nigerian Army's statement confirmed the rescue of the kidnapped victims but did not mention the capture of any suspects.
- The images were used by several news outlets to report the rescue incident, confirming the accuracy of the event.
