The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has debunked widespread claims that officers were seen fraternising with armed bandits in a viral video from Katsina State, describing the narrative as false, misleading, and deliberately distorted.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, clarified that the individuals captured in the footage were not bandits but recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered local hunters working in collaboration with security agencies.
According to the police, the video showed a routine interaction at a checkpoint involving a police officer and the community-based security operatives, who were reportedly en route to support ongoing security operations in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters actively supporting security operations,” the statement read.
The Force strongly rejected allegations suggesting any form of collusion between police personnel and criminal elements, stressing that such claims are “entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.”
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The police further condemned the spread of misinformation, warning that the deliberate distortion of facts could incite public fear, erode trust in security institutions, and undermine ongoing efforts to combat insecurity across the country.
Members of the public were urged to disregard the misleading narrative and rely solely on verified information from official police channels and authorised government sources.
The NPF also cautioned individuals and groups against disseminating false information capable of threatening public peace, noting that offenders risk facing legal consequences.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Force emphasized its continued collaboration with legitimate community security groups to safeguard lives and property.
The viral footage had shown a convoy of armed men on motorcycles passing through a police checkpoint, with officers appearing to exchange greetings an image that sparked widespread concern before the official clarification.
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