The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a police officer was seen fraternizing with armed bandits in Katsina State, describing the allegation as false, misleading, and aimed at deceiving the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force clarified that the individuals captured in the viral video were not bandits but 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 police, the video showed a routine interaction between a police officer and the community security volunteers as they moved to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas to support ongoing security efforts.
The Force stressed that attempts to portray the footage as evidence of collaboration between police officers and criminal elements were malicious and intended to undermine public trust in security institutions.
The NPF further condemned the spread of misinformation, warning that false narratives capable of causing public panic and disrupting security operations could attract legal consequences.
The police urged Nigerians to disregard the misleading claims attached to the video and rely only on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorized government agencies.
Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the Force stated that it will continue to collaborate with legitimate community-based security groups and other stakeholders in the fight against crime and insecurity across the country.
