Digital Forensics Debunk Doctored Viral Claims of Kano State Underwear Empowerment Program

Forensic analysis proves viral claims of Kano State underwear gifts are false. Learn how digital manipulation fueled a political misinformation campaign in Nigeria.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 8:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Trust

Verification of Viral Misinformation Campaigns

The digital landscape in Kano State was recently flooded with provocative imagery suggesting that the provincial administration had officially sanctioned the distribution of red underwear as campaign or empowerment incentives. Given the volatile political environment, Daily Trust conducted a rigorous verification process to determine the authenticity of these claims. The investigation focused on identifying whether the government had truly pivoted toward such an unconventional and culturally sensitive form of public support, or if the narrative was a product of digital fabrication.

Forensic Discovery of Image Manipulation

Using Error Level Analysis, investigators identified clear signs of tampering in the circulated photos. In a standard, unedited digital file, the compression noise is generally uniform across the entire frame. However, the viral images in question exhibited a distinct, bright patch on the specific items being held, indicating that these portions were inserted or modified before being recompressed. Further forensic checks confirmed that the image of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was digitally added to create the false impression of his personal involvement in the purported distribution.

Origins of the Political Stunt

The underlying content for the hoax was extracted from a video featuring a group of supporters known as the Gida, Gida TikTokers. The footage was recorded during a high profile visit by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the Kano Government House. During the event, these supporters displayed red garments as a symbolic mockery of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The act utilized derogatory local metaphors, specifically the phrase “Dan kamfan tsula,” which refers to a small monkey in Hausa and has become a recurring insult in regional political rhetoric.