Claim: Social media users shared images and a video claiming they show bandits killed by Nigerian troops during a recent military operation in the Gumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Verdict: Misleading. While reports confirmed that Nigerian troops successfully decimated several bandits in Gumi, DUBAWA found that the viral images were taken in South Africa, where security forces arrested illegal miners, while the video dates back to 2022.
Full Text
On July 9, 2026, a verified X user, Mallam Abdulsalam Ahmad (@Abdul_Ahmad_), shared images (archived here) purportedly showing dozens of bandits killed during a military operation in Gumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The caption read, “A good number of terrorist bandits were neutralised yesterday in Gumi LG. Keep up the good work, Nigerian Military.”
As of July 10, 2026, the post had generated more than 253,000 views, 28,000 likes, 576 comments, 670 reposts, and 174 bookmarks.
The claim attracted mixed reactions.
A verified X user, Fubara-D (@FubaraD1), wrote, “This is to tell you that the Nigerian military is not the problem but the leaders and sponsors of these deadly groups…”
Another user, Philosopher (@Aboosman46), commented, “If the army will be dealing with them like this, you won’t hear anything like bandit.”
However, another X user, Logic (@Mrofficial_10), questioned the claim, writing, “Are the military aware of this?”
Similarly, a Facebook user, Ibrahim Garkuwa Danchadi, shared a 30-second video (archived here), claiming it showed Nigerian troops engaging bandits in Gumi.
In the video, several military armoured vehicles were seen lined up, their guns firing.
As of July 10, 2026, the post had attracted 5,700 views, 195 reactions, 12 comments, and 20 shares.
DUBAWA also found the images and video reposted across several Facebook accounts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here with similar claims.
Because of virality and the comments it generated, DUBAWA decided to verify.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted reverse image searches of the images. We traced the images to the Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria, Gauteng Province, South Africa, where security agencies conducted a large-scale operation against illegal mining.
A report by News24 stated that 217 suspected illegal miners were arrested during Operation Prosper, a joint law-enforcement operation conducted on July 7, 2026.
According to the report, those arrested included illegal immigrants from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, alongside two South African nationals. The Police also arrested two suspects for possession of ammunition and for aiding illegal immigrants.
DUBAWA found the same images in reports published by YFM, Ekurhuleni News, and Zagazola, all of which identified them as photographs from the South African security operation rather than a military operation in Nigeria.
Further checks led DUBAWA to the official X account of the South African Police Service (SAPS), which originally published the photographs.
“A multidisciplinary law enforcement #OperationProsper conducted at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria… resulted in the arrest of 217 suspects,” part of SAPS’ caption read.
This confirms that the images originated from South Africa and are unrelated to any military operation in Zamfara State.
Old military training footage
DUBAWA also analysed the 31-second video using reverse image search.
The search result led to a Facebook post published on Jan. 20, 2022.
The post was captioned “Nigerian Army CS/VP3 and Dongfeng CSK131 at the range. Our troops are ready for them this year.”
The user implied that the footage shows a live-fire training exercise by the Nigerian Army involving armoured vehicles. DUBAWA found no evidence linking the video to any military operation conducted in Zamfara in July 2026.
However, recent reports confirmed that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA carried out a successful military operation against bandits at Dutsen Gidan Hill, 17 km outside Gumi Town in Gummi LGA.
According to the Zamfara State Government, security operatives neutralised about 300 terrorists during the operation on July 9, 2026.
Conclusion
The claim that these images and videos depict bandits neutralised in Zamfara State’s Gumi LGA is misleading. Whereas the video footage is a repurposed clip from 2022, the images are from an arrest in South Africa earlier in July.
This fellowship is implemented by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) with support from the European Union.