Police
Bolatito Mercy
The Nigeria Police Force has described a viral video purporting to show a “terror attack” in Abuja as fake and announced an investigation into its spread. The Force said the clip was manipulated and reposted with a misleading narrative designed to generate panic and fear among residents.
According to Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the trending video depicting armed men with assault rifles and a Hausa-language commentary claiming they were migrating from Benin Republic to Nigeria was not recent. A detailed video graphic analysis by the NPF Cybercrime Centre confirmed the footage was originally created and circulated on 28 May 2018, then reposted recently to cause disruption.
The Police stressed that the deliberate spread of false information is unpatriotic, criminal, and punishable under the law because it can incite panic and heat up the polity. They warned individuals who create or disseminate misleading content that they will face the full extent of the law.
This is not the first time the FCT has been the subject of viral disinformation. The Police have previously debunked other claims, including a message alleging the presence of 79 terrorists in Lugbe and announcing a curfew. Intelligence reports from the Force Intelligence Unit and other security agencies confirmed no terrorists were taking refuge there, and the message was falsely attributed to ACP Adejobi.
In another instance, a video of a police helicopter landing near armed individuals was misrepresented online as “delivering food items to bandits.” The Police clarified it was a legitimate joint security operation on 10 May 2025 in Kogi State involving vigilantes and hunters, with the helicopter providing aerial support and surveillance.
The Force has repeatedly urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. It advises citizens to rely only on official Police social media handles — @PoliceNG on X, @ngpolice on Facebook, and @nigeriapoliceforce on Instagram — and verified news sources.
The FCT Police Command also probes other viral content, including videos alleging police harassment. When such clips surface, the command conducts preliminary investigations to establish facts, as seen in a June 4 incident where a surveillance team from Kubwa Area Command was reviewed after a video alleged harassment near Chikakore Bridge.
Overall, the Police maintain that disinformation about terror threats undermines public safety and distracts security agencies. The Inspector General of Police has in the past dismissed elevated terror alerts as fake news when not shared through official channels, emphasizing that policing is a collective responsibility and panic does not solve security challenges.
