NPF Debunks Viral Katsina Video, Clarifies Community Security Volunteers Were Mistaken for Bandits

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed as false and misleading reports accompanying a viral video circulating on social media which alleged that a police officer was seen fraternizing with armed bandits in Katsina State.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, clarified that the individuals featured in the video are not bandits but duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working in collaboration with security agencies to combat criminal activities in parts of Katsina State.

According to the police, the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they were heading to a designated operational area within Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas to support ongoing security operations.

The Force emphasized that any suggestion linking the individuals to banditry is entirely unfounded, malicious, and designed to mislead members of the public.

“The individuals seen in the footage are legitimate community security volunteers actively supporting law enforcement efforts. Claims portraying them as bandits are false and intended to create a misleading narrative,” the statement noted.

The Police further condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of generating public anxiety, eroding trust in security institutions, and undermining ongoing efforts to address security challenges across the country.

The NPF urged citizens to disregard the false claims associated with the video and rely solely on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorized government agencies.

The statement also warned individuals and groups involved in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist, stressing that legal action may be taken against violators.

Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to strengthen partnerships with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives, secure communities, and combat crime nationwide.

— CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja