NEWS
Fact Check Debunks Viral Claim Alleging Kano State Government Distributed Underwear as Empowerment Gifts
…as Forensic Analysis Reveals Edited Images and Political Misinformation Trail
A viral claim circulating on social media alleging that the Kano State Government distributed underwear to women as part of an empowerment or campaign initiative has been found to be false following a detailed verification and forensic examination of the images attached to the story.
The misleading post, which gained traction online, featured images of women holding red underwear with captions suggesting that the items were officially distributed by the state government as empowerment items. However, investigative checks into the origin and authenticity of the visuals reveal a different narrative entirely.
A digital forensic review using Error Level Analysis (ELA) was conducted on the circulating images. This technique helps detect inconsistencies in image compression that often indicate tampering or digital alteration. In normally unedited photographs, compression noise and brightness levels remain consistent across the image.
However, the viral image showed a distinct irregularity: a brighter, inconsistent patch appeared on the underwear section, suggesting that elements were inserted or edited into the original photo before it was recompressed.
Further examination confirmed that the original image had been altered to insert the figure of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, creating a misleading impression that he was directly involved in distributing the items. This manipulation significantly distorted the context of the original visual content.
Investigations into the source material revealed that the images were extracted from a viral video featuring a group of supporters of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known online as Gida-Gida TikTokers. The video was recorded during the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Kano State. In the footage, the group is seen holding red underwear while gathered near the Kano Government House, engaging in political chants directed at Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The group used a derogatory phrase, “Dan kamfan tsula,” a politically charged expression in Hausa culture referring to Kwankwaso in a mocking tone. The phrase has previously circulated in politically motivated songs and commentary within partisan spaces.
The viral video was originally shared by a TikTok influencer associated with the group, and it quickly sparked controversy. Supporters of Senator Kwankwaso condemned the display, describing it as offensive and a reflection of deteriorating political conduct in the state.
In response, the influencer behind the video defended the act, framing it as a retaliatory expression linked to earlier political provocations by opposing supporters, who had engaged in similar symbolic demonstrations during rallies.
As the video circulated, it was later repackaged on social media with altered captions and edited visuals, giving the false impression that the Kano State Government itself distributed underwear as part of an empowerment program. The altered version of the content began trending a day after the original video surfaced, indicating a deliberate attempt to reshape a political stunt into a misleading government-related allegation.
The incident highlights the increasing misuse of edited visuals and out-of-context content in Nigeria’s political digital space. In highly charged political environments, satirical or symbolic actions are often repurposed, edited, and redistributed to support false narratives or discredit political opponents. In this case, what began as a politically motivated street-level stunt was digitally transformed into a fabricated claim targeting the state government.
The claim that the Kano State Government distributed underwear to women as empowerment or campaign gifts has been confirmed as false. The circulating images were digitally manipulated, and the original footage was taken from a politically charged stunt by supporters, not an official government empowerment programme.