The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a viral video from Katsina State showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits, describing the narrative as false, misleading, and deliberately aimed at undermining public confidence in security institutions.
According to an official signed statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, the armed individuals seen in the video are not bandits but duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are working in support of security operations in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
The Force explained that the footage captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area to assist ongoing efforts aimed at combating criminal activities and enhancing public safety within the affected communities.
The Police stressed that any suggestion linking the individuals in the video to banditry is entirely false and malicious, noting that the claim was designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary concern.
The statement condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of generating public anxiety, eroding trust in security agencies, and hampering ongoing security operations.
The Nigeria Police Force urged members of the public to disregard the false narrative attached to the video and rely solely on information released through official police communication channels and other authorized government sources.
The Force also warned individuals and groups involved in creating, publishing, or disseminating false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist from such acts, cautioning that legal action may be taken against violators.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the Nigeria Police Force stated that it would continue to collaborate with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to combat crime and strengthen security across the country.
