Viral bandit video not from Nigeria, Ogun police clarify

The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed a viral video claiming that bandits were operating in a forest within the state, describing the footage as “false, misleading, and recycled.”

The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed armed men allegedly operating in a forest, accompanied by a voice-over warning residents to be cautious.

In the footage, the narrator said: “We are trying to show you some video footage of the hideout of kidnappers here in Ogun State. We were able to capture this with our drone cameras, so people should be mindful of their movement henceforth.”

The voice added, “Yes, this is a hideout, can you see that? A lot of people are being detained by their captors. They are trying to aim at the drone camera, but it’s not easy because, as you can see, the drone doesn’t stay stable. But thank God for this discovery; people should be very careful and mindful of their movements.”

Reacting in a statement issued on Sunday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the video did not originate from Ogun State or any part of Nigeria.

“The video is false, misleading, and does not originate from Ogun State or any part of Nigeria,” the police said.

According to the command, preliminary investigations showed that the footage was actually recorded in Kenya during an operation against cattle rustlers and was captured using a General Service Unit drone.

“Further verification indicates that the video was first uploaded online in 2022 and has since been deliberately recirculated with a false narrative to create panic and misinform the public,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, also condemned the circulation of the video, warning that such content could erode public trust in security agencies.

He said the spread of unverified information “is capable of causing unnecessary fear and undermining public confidence in security agencies.”

Ojajuni further dismissed claims of criminal activity in Ogun forests, stating that “there is no intelligence or operational report to support the claim of any such criminal presence within forests or any part of Ogun State.”

He reassured residents of the command’s commitment to security, noting that it remains proactive through “intelligence-led policing, strategic deployments, and sustained operational vigilance across the state.”

The police urged members of the public to disregard the video and avoid sharing unverified content.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard the viral video and its accompanying false claims, and to refrain from sharing unverified information capable of inciting panic or disrupting public peace,” the statement said.

The command also warned that “the spread of false information and inciting content will not be tolerated.”