SAHARA Reporters, a U.S. based news agency, has posted four photos showing a trail of destruction to depict a purported attack by suspected herdsmen on Enugu communities in Southeastern Nigeria.
According to the media outlet, the images show the attack on about 44 farm settlements, known as ‘Ndiagu’ which were reportedly overrun, with residents forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighbouring communities.
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The outlet used the photos on its X and news website without caption or clarifying that the images were from a separate incident. This stirred outrage by many Nigerians who thought the photos showed the level of carnage caused by the attackers.
The post has garnered more than 900,000 views, with over 4,000 reposts, plus more than 4,000 likes and over 1,000 comments on X before it was deleted.
CLAIM
Photos show herdsmen attack in Enugu State.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The FactCheckHub understands that the story went viral due to its connection to a recent tragic incident which occurred in Uromi, Edo State, where a mob killed about 16 travelers suspected of being kidnappers. The victims, primarily from northern Nigeria, were intercepted by local vigilantes who discovered locally made weapons in their vehicle. This discovery led to accusations of criminal intent, culminating in the travelers being lynched and their vehicle set ablaze.
The Edo State Police Command reported that the travelers were en route from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebration when they were stopped around 1:30 p.m. in Uromi. Some were found in possession of hunting rifles, which led to suspicions and the subsequent mob action. Ten individuals were rescued, with two sustaining injuries and being hospitalized. Fourteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings.
The attack has reawakened concerns over the growing crisis of mob justice and extrajudicial killings by vigilante groups across Nigeria.
Our researcher conducted a Google Reverse Image search on the image frames posted by Sahara Reporters. The results revealed that the images depict an attack that occurred earlier in Ebonyi State in February 2025, as reported by multiple media platforms, including Sahara Reporters itself.
The media outlet had previously shared these images on February 3, 2025, to illustrate the Ebonyi attack. They were also published by The Sun newspaper, Amnesty International and News Hunter Official on Instagram, among other credible sources, thus confirming that the photos were from the Ebonyi incident.
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The images capture the aftermath of the deadly attack on Amagu and two other villages in Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on February 2, 2024.
The Ebonyi attack resulted in multiple casualties and significant property destruction. According to Channels Television, one of the suspects linked to the incident was arrested by the police.
The Punch reported that the assault was believed to be a reprisal attack following the alleged killing of cattle belonging to herdsmen in the area.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the images show a recent attack on Enugu communities is MISLEADING, as findings from multiple sources show that the images depict an attack by suspected herdsmen in Ebonyi State.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
