Police debunk viral video linked to Oyo school abduction

The Nigeria Police Force has officially dismissed a viral video circulating online, which falsely claimed to depict scenes related to the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. The Force stated on its X (formerly Twitter) handle Friday that the footage is an old video originating from outside Nigeria and is being misused to spread misinformation and incite unnecessary panic.

"This video is unrelated to the incident and is being used to spread misinformation and cause unnecessary panic," the Police stated. They cautioned that the dissemination of unverified content on social media platforms can distort public perception of ongoing security operations and potentially impede rescue efforts. The police urged citizens to rely solely on verified updates from official sources and to refrain from sharing misleading material that could exacerbate public anxiety.

Security agencies have confirmed that operations have been intensified following the abduction in Oyo State. Additional personnel and intelligence resources have been deployed with the objective of locating and safely rescuing the victims. While authorities have not disclosed specific operational details, they emphasized that all available resources are being committed to the search effort.

The police further appealed to the public to exercise caution when sharing content online, particularly concerning sensitive security incidents. They reiterated that misinformation could create confusion and undermine the integrity of ongoing rescue operations, stressing the critical importance of verification before publishing or reposting any material. The Force reaffirmed that official statements remain the most reliable source of information as investigations and rescue efforts continue.

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This video is unrelated to the incident and is being used to spread misinformation and cause unnecessary panic.