The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed as false a viral social media video alleging that uniformed police officers were seen interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State.
In a statement issued Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by Force Public Relations Officer CSP Anietie Okokon, the NPF said the individuals in the video are not bandits but “duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters” supporting security operations in Musawa and Matazu LGAs.
According to the Force, the footage captured a “routine interaction” between Police Officers and the volunteers as they moved to a designated operational area to combat criminality and enhance public safety.
The NPF condemned what it called a “deliberate distortion of facts,” warning that circulating misinformation can cause public anxiety, undermine confidence in security institutions, and frustrate ongoing operations against banditry in the Northwest.
Members of the public were urged to disregard the misleading claims and rely only on information from official NPF channels and authorized government sources. The Force also warned that legal action may be taken against individuals or groups that create, publish, or share false content capable of breaching public peace.
The Police reiterated its commitment to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders, including the VGN and hunters, in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities, and combat crime nationwide.
