The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims that armed men seen in a viral video passing through a checkpoint in Katsina State were bandits, insisting that the individuals were registered vigilantes and local hunters assisting security agencies in ongoing operations.
The clarification followed public outrage after footage circulated on social media showing dozens of heavily armed men riding motorcycles through a checkpoint while a police officer appeared to exchange greetings with them, triggering allegations of collaboration between security personnel and criminal elements.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the police described the narrative surrounding the video as false, misleading, and intended to erode public confidence in the nation’s security institutions.
According to the Force, the individuals captured in the footage are recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters operating in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State, where they support ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and protect local communities.
The police explained that the video merely showed a routine interaction between an officer on duty and the security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area.
“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 and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies,” the statement read.
The Force further condemned what it described as the deliberate spread of misinformation, warning that unverified reports and distorted narratives could create unnecessary panic, undermine public trust, and hinder ongoing security operations across the country.
It also cautioned individuals against circulating false information capable of threatening public peace and national security, stressing that appropriate legal measures could be taken against those found culpable.
The development has once again drawn attention to the growing role of community-based vigilante groups and local hunters in the fight against banditry and other violent crimes in northern Nigeria, where conventional security forces increasingly rely on civilian support to secure vulnerable communities.
Katsina State remains one of the regions most affected by armed attacks and kidnappings, with authorities continuing to strengthen collaborations between formal security agencies and local volunteers in a bid to restore peace and stability.
While the police maintain that the men in the controversial video were legitimate security partners, the incident has reignited broader conversations about public perception, accountability, and the complexities of community policing in areas grappling with persistent insecurity.