[TRENDING VIDEO] They “are not bandits” — Netizens react to Police clarification on Katsina banditry narrative

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims surrounding a viral video circulating on social media which allegedly showed a police officer interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State.

In a statement addressing the controversy, the police described the narrative accompanying the video as false and misleading, insisting that the individuals captured in the footage were not bandits.

The Police said, “the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and these security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety. Any claim suggesting otherwise is entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public.”

The force further clarified that the armed men seen in the video were recognised local security collaborators working alongside security agencies in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, 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 in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.”

Despite the clarification, the statement sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the type of weapons carried by the vigilantes and whether members of local security groups are permitted to wear military-style camouflage uniforms.

Click the link to watch the video.

Here are the reactions gathered from social media posts:

Moni Ukpeya (@Ntob): What a shame of a Police force. Hunters and local vigilante carrying AK 47 assault riffles with other machine guns. Tueh

Roberts U. Daniel (@duroberts): “Volunteer” with AK47 and some wearing camouflage? If there’s an after-life punishment, I’d like to volunteer as the manager of your hell.

Famous (@jojounitedmfc): If your papa na police if your sister or brother na police if na your mama better time to resign nothing good comes from Nigeria force nothing

01 (@n777sc): Ahhh we are finally finished wtf i was even thinking the officet acted that way to survive wait so na like this you guys dey see us so we be pawpaw for your eyes abi. This conversation made me think the people there were scared to act or run away but u guys just contradicted

Son of Man (@AJ__013): Bad governance aside, Tinubu is going to kill all of you in Nigeria. Imagine every institution has been bastardised all because of the drug dealer Tinubu.

Jola (@Jollz): It’s all in line with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

OBIDIENT (@Obidient…): Nigeria just can’t get better. If Nigeria police will come out to tell us what we saw isn’t black but white the. There’s problem in the land.. when did community security start moving with bandits ?

GRACE OF GOD (@Om…): I am vindicated because I said this in my tweets. The @PoliceNG … The man that first posted the video clip should be get arrested! Because he supposed to confirmed it before posted it.

wigoroje of bini (@dat_Wom…): I am speechless……….I have never seen it this bad….. Nigeria is truly on a very long thing even worse than what dbanj envisaged by saying lonnnnng thing….

Darlington (@darlingbaba_): Truly truly the Nigerian police force is fucking corrupt and useless!!! How can you try to convince the entire nation that these people are vigilante team when everyone can fully see that these men are carrying heavy duty guns.. Hmmm Nigeria!!

Shigaba Shigaba (@daemon…): This actually makes it worse. It’s now obvious The NPF works with terrorists and is willing to tell stupid lies to cover it up. You don’t rate Nigerians at all. You say these are men of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) but the evidence in the video says otherwise. So sad

Sarauta Maryam (@Sarauta…): The lie is so annoying I had to stop reading. Hunters supporting police with prohibited firearm? Hunters supporting police and both moving in opposite direction waving at eachother? Hunters supporting police and are 10x the manpower of the police they were meant supporting?

James Abraham (@JamesU…): If the Nigerian army, police, & DSS say they’re coming for you, believe it & run for your life. IF they tell you that they’re fighting jihadists, bandits, & kidnappers, DON’T BELIEVE A WORD OF IT. IF THEY DENY ANYTHING, believe it. They have a track record of complicity & duplicity

Chukwudi Chukwuemeka (@Chukwudi…): You guys should get out with this lies we know that you wouldn’t say the truth or defend the rubbish act of your men Accountability is lacking in this country from all angle of the government.

DØÇTÖR CRUÏ££ (@ThatCr…): Vigilante group and local hunters are now carrying AK47 riffle and wearing army camouflage. Abeg look for another lie

James Abraham (@JamesU…): NPF should have just ignored this video. With this denial and disclaimer, you’re opening the door to more fact-checking and a beatdown of what is left of your waning credibility. NPF: Don’t believe your eyes. If Nigerian police & military say it’s noon, BETTER CHECK YOUR TIME.

TK (@ghorzts): Vigilante dey wear army uniform?

Uchechukwu C. Thomas (@…): God save us from Nigerian security operatives. These idiots are still lying to Nigerians and protecting terrorists. Imagine telling us that a vigilante group members are carrying anti aircraft (AA) and anti tank guns, while the police officers are carrying AK-47. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. You are all colluding with the terrorists. Lying to defend terrorists. What sort of idiots are you people?? Look how you you came online to lie in broad daylight.

Chukwu-ebuka (@Nwabulibu): The Nigerian Police are trying to convince you not to believe your lying eyes. They now claim that Fulani terrorists in the North are mere hunters and local vigilantes. This is the security system put in place to protect you in this evil contraption called Nigeria. You can now see that you’re on your own. The Nigerian state is in full collaboration and coordination with terrorists. You have no option but to believe former Army Chief of Staff Gen. TY Danjuma, who told us that Nigerian armed forces and security personnel are facilitating and helping terrorists kill Nigerians. I’ll attach the videos side by side so you can watch and decide for yourself.

KOI (@koigbest): This country is absolutely finished. How can NPF lie openly to us that the riders are vigilantes? What nonsense. It would have been more honorable to just keep quiet and not tweet to insult our collective intelligence. A very useless force, indeed.

Chidera (@Life0fChidera): You people are stoopid and you are lucky 80% of Nigerians are stoopid too.. That’s the only reason why you tell us they people in this video are local Vigilantees and hunters

Akinkunmi | Akijos Electrical (@Akinkunmi): I know for sure that bandits can never move freely like this. As the Police have clarified, these are recognized VGN members and registered hunters supporting our security forces. Fake news media outlets and unpatriotic Nigerians are trying so hard every day to cause unrest and panic by distorting facts, but Nigeria will prevail. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria