Police Debunk Viral Katsina Video, Say Armed Men Were Registered Vigilantes Supporting Security Operations

Police Debunk Viral Katsina Video, Say Armed Men Were Registered Vigilantes Supporting Security Operations

ABUJA, June 24, 2026 — The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a viral video from Katsina State showed a police officer fraternising with armed bandits, describing the narrative as false, misleading and deliberately crafted to undermine public confidence in security institutions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force said the individuals captured in the video were not bandits but recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working in support of ongoing security operations in parts of Katsina State.

According to the police, the footage showed a routine interaction between a serving police officer and community-based security volunteers who were heading to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas to assist in efforts aimed at tackling criminality and enhancing public safety.

The Force stressed that any attempt to portray the encounter as collaboration between security personnel and criminal elements was entirely unfounded.

"The individuals featured in the video are duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations alongside security agencies," the statement said.

The police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating unnecessary public anxiety, eroding trust in security agencies and undermining ongoing efforts to combat insecurity.

It urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the viral video and rely on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government institutions.

The Force also warned individuals and groups involved in the creation and dissemination of false security-related information to desist, noting that legal action could be taken against offenders whose actions threaten public peace and security.

Reaffirming its commitment to community policing, the NPF said it would continue to collaborate with legitimate local security stakeholders and other partners in the collective fight against crime and the protection of lives and property across the country.

The statement was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu.