The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed as false and misleading claims circulating on social media that a police officer was seen fraternising with armed bandits in Katsina State, insisting that the individuals featured in the viral video are recognised community security volunteers working alongside law enforcement agencies.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force said the armed men captured in the video were members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters engaged in legitimate security operations in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
According to the police, the footage merely showed a routine interaction between a police officer and the volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of efforts to combat criminality and strengthen public safety.
The Force stressed that narratives portraying the individuals as bandits were entirely false, malicious and deliberately designed to mislead the public.
“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 ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies,” the statement said.
The police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating public anxiety, eroding confidence in security institutions and hampering ongoing security operations.
It urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely solely on information disseminated through official police channels and other authorised government sources.
The Force also warned individuals and groups involved in creating, publishing or circulating false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist immediately, noting that offenders could face legal consequences.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to work closely with legitimate community-based security groups and other stakeholders in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime across the country.