The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims that a viral video from Katsina state showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the police said the narrative accompanying the video was false and misleading.
The force said the individuals featured in the footage are recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working with security agencies in Katsina.
According to the police, the volunteers are supporting ongoing security operations in Musawa and Matazu LGAs of the state.
The force said the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they moved to a designated operational area.
Part of the statement read: “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 police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the circulation of misinformation.
The force said such actions are capable of causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions and frustrating ongoing security operations.
The police urged members of the public to disregard claims attached to the video and advised citizens to rely on information released through official police channels and other authorised government sources.
The police warned individuals and groups involved in creating or disseminating false information to desist, adding that legal action could be taken against those found to be spreading misinformation capable of threatening public peace and security.
The police also reaffirmed its commitment to working with legitimate community-based security groups and other stakeholders in combating crime across the country.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to working 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,” the statement added.