By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a police officer was seen fraternising with armed bandits in Katsina State, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the police said the individuals featured in the viral video were not bandits but duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters supporting security operations in Katsina State.
According to the statement, the security volunteers are working alongside security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas as part of efforts to combat criminal activities and enhance public safety.
The Force explained that the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the volunteers while they were on their way to a designated operational area.
It stressed that narratives portraying the encounter as a meeting between police personnel and bandits were entirely false and designed to mislead members of the public.
The police condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions and disrupting ongoing security operations.
The statement urged Nigerians to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely only on information released through official police channels and other authorised government sources.
The Force also warned individuals and groups involved in the creation, publication or dissemination of false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist, noting that offenders could face legal consequences.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to work closely with legitimate community-based security groups and other stakeholders to protect lives, safeguard communities and combat crime across the country.
