The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that police officers were seen fraternizing with armed bandits in Katsina State, describing the narrative as false, misleading, and deliberately designed to misinform the public.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the police clarified that the individuals featured in the viral video are not bandits but duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working alongside security agencies to combat criminal activities in parts of Katsina State.
According to the statement, the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they were heading to an operational area within Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas to support ongoing efforts aimed at tackling insecurity and safeguarding communities.
The Force stressed that any suggestion linking the armed men in the footage to banditry is entirely unfounded and intended to create unnecessary suspicion and public anxiety.
"The individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters who are actively supporting security operations in collaboration with security agencies," the statement said.
The police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of undermining public confidence in security institutions and disrupting ongoing operations against criminal elements.
The Force warned that the circulation of false information relating to national security issues could have serious consequences, including inciting fear among citizens and jeopardizing efforts by security agencies to restore peace in affected communities.
As a result, the NPF urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the video and to seek information only from official police communication channels and other authorized government sources.
The statement further cautioned individuals and groups involved in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false and misleading security-related content to desist from such acts, noting that legal action may be taken against offenders.
Reaffirming its commitment to community-based policing, the Nigeria Police Force emphasized the importance of collaboration with legitimate local security stakeholders, including vigilante groups and registered hunters, in addressing security challenges across the country.
The Force maintained that such partnerships remain critical in the collective effort to protect lives, secure communities, and strengthen the fight against crime and criminality nationwide.
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