Misleading! Video claiming 48 killed in Niger State, not recent

Misleading! Video claiming 48 killed in Niger State, not recent
Map of Niger State. Photo Source: Leadership newspaper
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Misleading! Video claiming 48 killed in Niger State, not recent

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Niger State has continued to experience recurring communal clashes between farming and pastoralist communities over land disputes, natural resources, and grievances, often triggering deadly violence. 

Recent incidents have resulted in deaths, displacement and heightened tensions across affected communities, as Governor Umar Bago set up a peace and reconciliation committee.

Recently, a Facebook user, Hausawa, shared a two-minute-50-second video (archived here) showing a man who identifies as Prince Erena recounting a violent conflict in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. In the clip, Erena claimed that 48 people had been killed and their bodies set ablaze.

“So the news coming to me this morning is that there is a clash of tribal fight in Niger State where 48 people were burned in Rafi Local Government, Niger State,” Prince Erena said. 

Erena further condemned the attacks involving Fulani communities and warned of a possible “revolution” against Fulani people in Niger State.

As of Sept. 13, 2026, the post had 1,500 views, 71 reactions, 30 comments, and seven shares.

Other Facebook users who commented on the clip urged Erena to keep spotlighting the issue and not back down on his threat. 

“Go ahead, kawai, no time,” Kabiru Kira Jama’are encouraged.

“I support you bro,” Dili Chukwu Olisa wrote.

“Fulani is enemy of whole tribe in Nigeria,” Emmanuel Augustine commented. 

Due to the claim’s severity and to forestall possible disinformation, DUBAWA decided to verify the post. 

Verification

DUBAWA conducted a Google keyword search related to the claim made in the clip, and we found relevant news reports linked to it. 

Premium Times reported on July 1, 2026, that at least 48 people were killed during communal violence between Fulani and Kamuku communities in Tegina, Rafi LGA, Niger State. Residents told the news outlet that violence occurred on Wednesday when herders armed with machetes attacked the Kamuku community and killed 42 people, mostly women, children, and elders.

Vanguard newspaper also reported the tragic incident and relayed that herder militia armed with machetes attacked farmers from the Kamuku community in Tegina, Niger State. They killed at least 42 people, which triggered a later reprisal attack that ended the lives of six herders. 

Both Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) Afrika and Arab News also reported a similar development. 

Using Google Reverse Image Search, DUBAWA traced the clip’s original version to a Facebook post shared on July 2, 2026. In the post, Prince Erena wrote that he would lead a revolution against the Fulanis if they continue to attack any tribe in his state.

The post was shared after credible news outlets had reported the death of 48 people following a farmer-herder communal clash in Niger State.

Furthermore, there has been no news from any credible news outlet about a recent killing of 48 people in Niger State. 

Conclusion

The claim is misleading. The clip is not recent, as it was initially shared in July, when 48 people were reportedly killed in a farmer-herder communal clash in Niger State. 

This fellowship is implemented by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) with support from the European Union.