FACT CHECK: True or False—Did Kano Govt Distribute Underwear to Women?

A viral claim alleging that the Kano State Government distributed underwear to women as part of an empowerment or campaign initiative has been found to be false.

The allegation, widely shared on social media, included images of women holding red pants, with captions suggesting the items were officially handed out by the government. However, verification efforts reveal that the claim is based on manipulated content.

Analysis of the viral images shows clear signs of editing. While authentic images typically have consistent brightness and compression, the circulated version displays a noticeably brighter patch around the pants area—an indication that part of the image was altered before being recompressed. In contrast, the original image maintains uniform brightness and shows no evidence of tampering.

Further forensic checks confirm that the image was digitally modified to insert a picture of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, falsely implying his involvement in the distribution.

Investigations traced the visuals back to a viral video featuring supporters of the governor, popularly known as Gida-Gida TikTokers. The footage was recorded during the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Kano.

In the video, the group is seen displaying red pants outside the Kano Government House while chanting politically charged songs targeting former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The phrase “Dan kamfan tsula” was repeatedly used—a derogatory expression in local political rhetoric.

The video, reportedly shared by a TikTok influencer identified as Teemah Cool, sparked backlash online, with critics condemning the act as inappropriate. She later defended the display, describing it as a response to previous actions by opposing supporters.

Findings also show that the “underwear empowerment” narrative only emerged a day after the original video surfaced, indicating it was a distorted interpretation rather than a factual account.

There is no credible evidence that the Kano State Government distributed underwear to women in any official capacity.