Nigeria police debunk false bandit video, arrest student over fake claim

The Nigeria Police Force issued a statement clarifying that a viral video circulating on social media, which appeared to show a uniformed officer interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State, actually captured a routine encounter with members of the recognised Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters supporting security operations in Musawa and Matazu LGAs. The force condemned the narrative as false, malicious and intended to mislead the public, warning that the spread of misinformation could undermine confidence in security institutions.

Separately, the Bayelsa State Police Command announced the arrest of a 23‑year‑old university student for creating and sharing a fabricated online report that claimed bandits had invaded parts of the state and were being held by militants demanding a N50 million ransom. The false claim sparked panic, prompting parents to collect children from schools and temporarily disrupting commercial activities. Police emphasised that there was no bandit invasion and warned against the irresponsible use of social media to spread unverified security information.