Nigeria Police Force debunks viral video, clarifies identity of individuals in Katsina

The Nigeria Police Force has officially refuted claims accompanying a viral video that allegedly showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, stated that the individuals depicted in the video are not bandits.

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For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits.

Instead, Iniedu clarified that the people seen in the footage are recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters. These individuals actively support ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies in the Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State. The video, according to the police, captured a routine interaction between an officer and these security volunteers as they were heading to a designated operational area.

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They are duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

The police force strongly condemned the "false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public" narrative surrounding the video. They emphasized that any suggestion of the officer interacting with bandits is entirely untrue. The force highlighted the dangers of such misinformation, stating it can cause public anxiety, undermine confidence in security institutions, and hinder ongoing security operations.

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Any claim suggesting otherwise is entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.

Members of the public are urged to disregard the misleading claims associated with the video and to rely solely on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorized government sources. The police issued a stern warning against individuals and groups involved in creating or spreading false information that could prejudice public peace and security, indicating that appropriate legal action may be taken against violators. The force reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with community-based security stakeholders to combat crime and enhance public safety nationwide.

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The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemns the deliberate distortion of facts and the circulation of misinformation capable of causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and frustrating ongoing security operations.