They Are Not Bandits' — Police Debunk Viral Katsina Video, Say Armed Men Are Registered Vigilantes

By; Awajis Josiah-Chijindu 

The Nigeria Police Force  has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a viral video from Katsina State showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits, insisting that the men featured in the footage are registered vigilantes and hunters assisting security agencies in ongoing operations.

The Force described the narrative attached to the video as false, misleading and malicious, warning that the spread of misinformation could undermine public confidence in security institutions and hamper efforts to combat crime.

A statement signed on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie  Iniedu,  clarified that the individuals seen in the video are duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters operating in collaboration with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

According to the statement, the footage captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the community security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of ongoing efforts to tackle criminality and enhance public safety.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State,” the statement read.

The Force stressed that any claim suggesting the officer was fraternising with bandits was entirely unfounded and intended to mislead the public. It condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the circulation of false information capable of causing public anxiety, eroding trust in security institutions and frustrating ongoing security operations.

The police urged Nigerians to disregard the claims accompanying the video and rely only on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government sources.

The statement also warned individuals and groups involved in creating, publishing or disseminating false information capable of threatening public peace and security to desist immediately, noting that appropriate legal action could be taken against offenders.

Reaffirming its commitment to collaborative security efforts, the Force said partnerships with legitimate community-based security stakeholders remain essential in the fight against crime and insecurity across the country.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and other relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives, safeguard communities and combat crime across the country,” the statement added.

The clarification comes amid sustained security operations across Katsina and other parts of the North-West, where security agencies have increasingly worked with registered vigilante groups and local hunters to strengthen intelligence gathering, support patrol operations and counter banditry activities.