Claim: A Facebook user, Chukwudi Collins, shared an image, claiming it shows victims of the Aug. 21, 2026, mosque attack in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s investigation found that the image was not taken during the Niger mosque attack. It shows the corpses of victims of a boat mishap in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Full Text
A Facebook user, Chukwudi Collins, posted an image (archived here) in a group chat, claiming it shows victims killed by armed attackers during Friday prayers in four communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Aug. 21, 2026.
Part of the caption reads, “JUST IN: Niger Mosque Attacks, 30 Killed, Hundreds Abducted. At least 30 people were killed after armed attackers struck four communities in Borgu LGA, Niger State, during Friday prayers on August 21. Dozens were initially reported abducted, while a video circulating online appears to show about 600 captives.”
As of Aug. 30, 2026, the post generated 13 likes, 2 comments, and 7 reshares. This low reaction count is because the user posted it on a page where comments must be approved by admin(s) before they appear in the comment section.
One Facebook user, Seyi Adedokun, remarked sarcastically, “Religion of peace indeed.”
Another commenter, Prince Adeogo, issued a warning to people in the Southern and Middle-Belt regions, urging them to remain vigilant against what he described as “Fulani expansionist” agendas.
The claim emerged amid growing concerns over attacks in north-western Nigeria. In view of this, DUBAWA decided to verify the image.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a reverse image search on Google to establish the image’s origin and determine whether it was connected to the Niger mosque attack.
The search returned several earlier reports showing the same image linked to a boat mishap in Sokoto State.
One result was an Al Jazeera report published on Aug. 20, 2026. The image’s caption explained that these were the corpses of victims of an overloaded boat that capsized in Sokoto State.
THE STRAITSTIMES also published the same image in its report on the boat accident. The incident occurred near Gorau in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State on August 20.
Further verification led DUBAWA to a Reuters report on the incident. Reuters provided additional details about the boat capsizing and the recovery of victims’ bodies.
DUBAWA also found a video by Channels Television documenting the burial of victims of the Sokoto boat mishap. The scenes in the video correspond with the circumstances surrounding the image and further establish that it was linked to the Sokoto incident, rather than the Niger State mosque attack.
The Niger mosque attack is actually true. In a report published by Premium Times, the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Council confirmed that about 30 people died following the attack on Muslim worshippers during the Jumaat prayers on Aug. 21.
Although the incident is true, our findings show that the image circulated by Chukwudi Collins predates the Niger mosque attack and was originally associated with the Sokoto State boat mishap.
Conclusion
The claim that the image shows victims of the Niger State mosque attack is misleading. The image actually shows victims of the boat mishap in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. It was subsequently misrepresented as an image from the mosque attack in Niger State.
This fellowship is implemented by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) with support from the European Union.