FACT-CHECK: Image does not show man sentenced to death for trying to protect Christians from terrorists

The fear and belief that radical Islamists in northern Nigeria are intentionally slaughtering Christians to fully Islamize the region has persisted.

Although the many residents in the North, who become the victims of these terrorists are also Muslims, this belief has continued in the minds of some Nigerians as insecurity seems far from ending.

In states like Kaduna, Taraba, Plateau, Benue and Adawama — northern Nigeria, the many Christian communities in these states have suffered gruesome attacks in recent times which prompted a condemnation from the United States government

Without evidence, some Nigerians recently posted a photo of a man who was stripped and had his hands tied up, claiming that he was sentenced to death in Kaduna for protecting Christians from terrorists.

An X user,@SlimNazi, posted the image and wrote: “It has come to light that an individual in Kaduna reportedly organised youths to confront bandits and kidnappers within the state.

“Subsequently, this person was apprehended by the government and received a death sentence by hanging.

“This situation raises questions regarding the priorities of this administration in terms of protection whether it is the citizens or the perpetrators of terrorism.”

Another X user, Zariyi Yusuf made the same claim.

Verification

But FACT WATCH Nigeria subjected the photo of the man to Google Image Reverse Search, and the results indicated that the image first appeared online in 2019.

Some news websites that attached the photo as a Feature Image to their publications reported in 2019 that the leader of a notorious gang, identified as ‘Zidane’, was apprehended by security operatives in Kaduna state.

The suspect is alleged to have terrorised the people of Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State. He allegedly served as the mastermind and architect of the crisis in Kasuwan Magani and some parts of southern Kaduna.

According to the report, he was nabbed on Thursday, 7th March, 2019, by gallant soldiers at his hideout in Rimau, a village near Kasuwan Magani, after days of trail.

Another blog reported the story then in 2019 here.

Court trial, death sentence and clarification

The man was arraigned in a court in Kaduna State and sentenced to death in January 2026.

Many people condemned the judgment in January, querying why the man should be sentenced to death.

Clarifying, the Kaduna State Government described as false and misleading the comments circulated on social media over the death sentence passed on Victor Solomon, also nick-named as Zidane, insisting that the judicial process was transparent, lawful and grounded strictly in evidence.

Guardian Nigeria reports that in the judgment delivered on January 6, 2026, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, James Kanyip, said that Solomon faced two separate criminal trials before two different High Courts over distinct offences involving different victims.

“There is no contradiction in the court outcomes being referenced online. Victor Solomon was tried in two completely different cases,” he explained.

Solomon was acquitted in one case in 2024, but lawfully convicted in another in 2026 based on the evidence before the court,” Kanyip stated.

The Attorney-General explained that the first case — Charge No. KDH/KAD/73C/2020 — which bordered on criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, ended with Solomon’s discharge and acquittal on May 21, 2024.

However, the second case — Charge No. KDH/KAD/78C/2020 — involved graver offences including criminal conspiracy, grievous harm without provocation and culpable homicide punishable with death. That trial was concluded in October 2025, culminating in Solomon’s conviction and sentence to death by hanging on January 6, 2026.

“The conviction was not arbitrary or politically motivated. It followed due process, full trial and judicial evaluation of facts and evidence,” Kanyip stressed, noting that the defendant retains the constitutional right to appeal up to the Supreme Court”, Kanyip said.

Verdict

The claim that the man was sentenced to death for trying to protect Christians from terrorists is FALSE.

The image of the man resurfaced online recently after the Nigerian government announced the reintegration and pardoning of over 700 terrorists, which angered many Nigerians.