DEBUNKED: Claim That Nigerian Youths Set ADC  Chairman’s Residence Ablaze in Gombe Is False!

BY: Sonaike Peter

Claim:

On April 30, 2026, a group of Nigerian youths  set ablaze the residence of a factional  National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafi’u Bala, in Gombe State.

Verdict:

The claim is false. There is no credible evidence confirming that the ADC chairman’s residence was set on fire.

Full Text:

A viral claim alleging that the residence of the fractional national African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairman, Nafi’u Bala, was set ablaze circulated across social media platforms on April 30, 2026.

The claim, as confirmed by FactCheckAfrica, was linked to a post shared on X by one Senator Idris Haruna.

Further findings by FactCheckAfrica revealed that the claim was also reported by a northern-based media outlet, Northern Star.

However, in response to the allegation, the Gombe State Police Command dismissed the claim.

 In an official press statement issued on Thursday, April, 30, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, Gombe State, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed that no such incident had been recorded anywhere in the state.

“The command confirms that the report is false, as no such incident has been recorded anywhere in the state,” Abdullahi wrote.

He further urged members of the public to disregard the misinformation and remain calm.

“The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Umar Ahmed Chuso, urges members of the public to disregard this misinformation and remain calm, as the command remains committed to ensuring peace and security across Gombe State,” he added.

Verification:

The claim that a group of Nigerian youths set ablaze the residence of the ADC’s factional national Chairman, Rafi’u Bala, is misleading. Findings by Fact-Check Africa revealed that the images used to support the viral claim are unrelated and were misrepresented.

Conclusion:

The claim that the residence of ADC Chairman, Nafi’u Bala, was set ablaze is false and misleading. According to the Gombe State Police Command, no such fire incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Bala is currently involved in a legal dispute over the leadership of the ADC, which has been taken to court.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) derecognised factions within the ADC leadership on April 1, 2026, citing a Court of Appeal judgment.

Subsequently, on April 30, the Supreme Court of Nigeria directed the David Mark-led faction of the ADC to return to the Federal High Court for the hearing and determination of issues arising from the party’s leadership dispute.