The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has debunked claims circulating on social media that a viral video from Katsina State showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force described the reports as false and misleading, explaining that the individuals captured in the footage are members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working alongside security agencies.
According to the police, the video was recorded during a routine operational movement in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State, where the volunteers were heading to support ongoing security operations against criminal elements.
“The individuals featured in the video are not bandits. 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,” the statement read.
The Force maintained that the narrative accompanying the video was entirely false and deliberately crafted to mislead members of the public.
It described the reports as “entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.”
The police also condemned what it called the deliberate distortion of facts, warning that the spread of misinformation could undermine public confidence in security institutions, cause unnecessary panic, and disrupt ongoing security operations.
The NPF urged Nigerians to disregard the claims associated with the viral video and rely only on verified information from official police channels and other authorized government sources.
The Force further warned that individuals or groups responsible for creating or circulating false information that threatens public peace and national security could face legal consequences.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity, the police said it will continue working closely with legitimate community-based security groups, including registered vigilantes and hunters, to combat crime and protect lives and property nationwide.
The clarification comes amid heightened security operations in parts of northern Nigeria, where security agencies have increasingly collaborated with local vigilante groups to strengthen intelligence gathering and support efforts against banditry and other violent crimes.
