The Nigeria Police Force has addressed a video that has been making the rounds on social media, which appeared to show a police officer interacting with heavily armed men on motorcycles in Katsina State. The footage had led many to believe that security personnel were allowing bandits to pass through a checkpoint without any challenge.
But in a statement released on Wednesday, the police said the narrative attached to the video was false and misleading . According to the Force, the individuals seen in the footage are not bandits but recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters working alongside security agencies in the state.
The police explained that the video captured a routine exchange between a police officer and these community security volunteers as they made their way to a designated operational area . The volunteers were heading out to support efforts aimed at tackling crime and improving safety in the area.
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The statement, issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, stressed that any suggestion the officer was fraternising with bandits was completely false and intended to mislead the public . The police described the claims attached to the video as malicious and a deliberate distortion of facts.
The clarification comes as security agencies across the North-West continue to work more closely with local vigilante groups and hunters to combat banditry . These volunteers have become an essential part of security operations in states like Katsina, where they provide intelligence and support to overstretched security forces.
According to security sources, the volunteers seen in the video were carrying authorised rifles commonly permitted for licensed hunters and recognised vigilante groups . Officials noted that unlike armed bandits who often disguise themselves in military or police camouflage, none of the individuals in the video wore security uniforms associated with criminal groups.
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The police condemned the spread of what they called false information capable of creating public anxiety and undermining trust in security institutions . They also warned that individuals found to be creating or sharing such content could face legal consequences.
“The Force warns individuals and groups engaged in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false information capable of prejudicing public peace and security to desist immediately, as appropriate legal action may be taken against violators,” the statement said.
The police urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the video and to rely on information released through official police channels and other authorised government sources.
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Police Say Armed Men in Viral Video Are Vigilantes.
