The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has firmly rejected reports circulating on social media that a viral video from Katsina State depicted a police officer fraternizing with armed bandits. The Force described such claims as false, malicious, and deliberately misleading.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the NPF clarified that the individuals featured in the footage were not criminals but members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters. These community-based security volunteers are actively engaged in joint operations with law enforcement agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
According to the police, the video merely captured a routine exchange between an officer and the volunteers as they mobilized to a designated operational zone to support ongoing efforts against banditry and other forms of criminality.
“The individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies,” the statement emphasized.
The Force condemned the distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation, warning that such actions risk heightening public anxiety, eroding trust in security institutions, and undermining coordinated operations against criminal networks.
The NPF urged citizens to disregard the misleading narrative attached to the video and to rely exclusively on verified updates issued through official police channels and other authorized government sources.
Furthermore, the Force cautioned that individuals or groups responsible for fabricating or disseminating false information capable of threatening public peace and national security may face prosecution.
Reaffirming its commitment, the NPF pledged to continue working closely with legitimate community security outfits, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen the fight against crime and safeguard lives and property across Nigeria.
