The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has debunked claims circulating on social media alleging that a police officer was seen fraternising with armed bandits in a viral video recorded in Katsina State, describing the narrative as false, misleading, and malicious.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the police clarified that the individuals captured in the video were not bandits but duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters assisting security agencies in ongoing operations in Katsina State.
According to the statement, the security volunteers are actively collaborating with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas as part of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety.
The Force explained that the footage merely showed a routine interaction between a police officer and the community security volunteers as they moved to a designated operational area.
“The video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and these security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety. Any claim suggesting otherwise is entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public,” the statement read.
The police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation, warning that such actions could create unnecessary public anxiety, erode confidence in security institutions, and undermine ongoing security operations.
The Force urged members of the public to disregard the misleading claims associated with the viral video and rely only on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government sources.
The statement further warned individuals and groups involved in the creation or dissemination of false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist, stressing that appropriate legal action could be taken against offenders.
Reaffirming its commitment to community policing, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to work closely with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime across the country.
Background
Community-based security initiatives, including collaborations with registered vigilante groups and hunters, have become an integral part of security operations in several states across Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by banditry and other violent crimes. Security agencies have repeatedly emphasised the importance of partnerships with legitimate local security volunteers in intelligence gathering and community protection efforts.
