The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed as false and misleading claims circulating on social media that a viral video showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, clarified that the individuals seen in the video were not bandits but duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters assisting security agencies in ongoing operations.
According to the police, the volunteers were working in collaboration with security operatives in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State to combat criminal activities and enhance public safety.
The Force explained that the footage captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the community security volunteers as they moved to a designated 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 who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies,” the statement said.
The police described allegations linking the officer to bandits as “entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.”
The NPF condemned what it called the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and hampering ongoing security efforts.
It urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely only on information released through official police channels and other authorised government sources.
The Force also warned individuals and groups against creating, publishing, or circulating false information capable of threatening public peace and security, stressing that legal action could be taken against offenders.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling crime nationwide, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to collaborate with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners to safeguard lives and property across the country.
