The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has refuted claims that a viral video circulating on social media shows a police officer interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State, stating that the individuals captured in the footage are registered vigilantes and hunters assisting security agencies in the fight against crime.
The video, which has generated widespread reactions online, shows a large convoy of motorcycle riders passing stationary vehicles while a police officer appears to wave at them. The footage sparked speculation that the riders were armed bandits moving freely in the state.
The controversy was further fuelled by voices heard in the background of the recording. One passenger, believed to be filming from a commercial vehicle, described the riders as “barayin daji,” a Hausa expression commonly used to refer to bandits, while another passenger questioned the remark.
Responding to the claims in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anietie Iniedu, said the riders were recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters operating in support of security operations in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
According to the police, the footage captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they travelled to a designated operational area to assist in ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities and enhance public safety.
The Force described allegations that the video depicted police officers fraternising with bandits as false and misleading.
“The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemns the deliberate distortion of facts and the circulation of misinformation capable of causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and frustrating ongoing security operations,” the statement said.
The police urged members of the public to verify information through official channels before sharing it and warned that individuals found spreading false information capable of threatening public peace and security could face legal consequences.
