The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed as false a viral video circulating on social media that claimed a uniformed officer was interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State.
In a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu on June 24, 2026, the Force said the individuals in the video are not bandits but “duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters.”
According to the police, the video captured a routine interaction between an officer and the security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas. The volunteers are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits… Any claim suggesting otherwise is entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public,” the statement read.
The Force condemned the “deliberate distortion of facts” and said such misinformation can cause public anxiety, undermine confidence in security institutions, and frustrate ongoing operations.
Members of the public were urged to disregard the misleading claims and rely only on information from official NPF channels and other authorized government sources.
The police also warned individuals and groups creating or sharing false information capable of prejudicing public peace and security to desist, noting that “appropriate legal action may be taken against violators.”
The NPF reaffirmed its commitment to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders, including VGN and registered hunters, to protect lives and combat crime across the country.
The clarification comes amid heightened security operations in Katsina, where community volunteers often support police and military efforts against banditry.
