The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed as false and misleading claims circulating on social media that a viral video showing a police officer interacting with armed men in Katsina State depicts officers collaborating with bandits.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits but duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who work alongside security agencies in ongoing operations in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
The Police explained that the footage captured a routine interaction between the officer and the community security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area to support efforts aimed at combating criminality and improving public safety. The Force described claims portraying the volunteers as bandits as false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.
The NPF condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and frustrating ongoing security operations. It urged members of the public to disregard the false narrative and rely only on information released through official Nigeria Police Force channels and other authorised government sources.
The Force also warned individuals and groups involved in creating or disseminating false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist, noting that legal action may be taken against offenders. It reaffirmed its commitment to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime across the country.
