The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims that a viral video from Katsina State showed a police officer fraternising with armed bandits, describing the narrative circulating on social media as false and misleading.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Force said the armed men seen in the video are recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working with security agencies to combat crime in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
According to the police, the footage captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the community security volunteers as they headed to an operational area.
“The individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies,” the statement said.
The Force said allegations that the officer was interacting with bandits were “entirely false, malicious and intended to mislead the public.”
“The video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and these security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety,” it added.
The Police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts, warning that the spread of misinformation could create unnecessary public anxiety, erode confidence in security institutions and undermine ongoing security operations.
“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,” the statement said.
The Force urged Nigerians to disregard the claims attached to the viral video and rely only on information released through official police channels and other authorised government sources.
It also warned individuals and groups involved in creating or spreading false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist, stressing that offenders could face legal action.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity, the Police said it would continue working with legitimate community-based security organisations and other partners to protect lives, secure communities and combat crime across the country.