The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a police officer was seen fraternising with armed bandits in Katsina State, describing the narrative attached to a viral video as false, misleading, and malicious.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the police clarified that the individuals featured in the video are not bandits but duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working alongside security agencies in ongoing operations against criminal elements in the state.

According to the statement, the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they were heading to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State to support efforts aimed at combating insecurity and protecting communities.

The Force stressed that any suggestion that the armed men in the video were bandits is entirely false and intended to mislead the public.

“The individuals featured in the video are not bandits. They are duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies,” the statement said.

The police condemned what it described as a deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating public anxiety, eroding trust in security institutions, and undermining ongoing security operations.

The Force urged members of the public to disregard the claims accompanying the video and rely solely on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government sources.

It also warned individuals and groups involved in the creation, publication, or dissemination of false information that could threaten public peace and security to desist, noting that legal action may be taken against violators.

Reaffirming its commitment to tackling crime nationwide, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to collaborate with legitimate community-based security groups and other relevant stakeholders to safeguard lives and property across the country.