The Nigeria Police Force has clarified a trending video showing a group of persons suspected to be armed terrorists, saying it was an old video, believed to have been shared to heat the polity and cause panic among Nigerians.
In the video, the terrorists were seen carrying assault rifles and other dangerous weapons with a commentary in the Hausa language, claiming they were migrating from Benin Republic to Nigeria. This, naturally, caused widespread concern and attracted good attention.
The Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “After a thorough and detailed video graphic analysis conducted by the NPF Cybercrime Centre, it has been confirmed that the video in question was created and circulated on 28th May 2018.
“Our findings reveal that the video was recently reposted with a misleading narrative and deliberate intention to cause unnecessary panic and disruption within the country.
“While urging the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, the Nigeria Police Force issued a strong warning to individuals who engage in the deliberate spread of false information, an act which is unpatriotic, criminal and punishable under the law reiterating that such can cause significant harm, incite panic, and heat the polity. The Police frown at such acts and assure that anyone found to be involved in the creation and/or dissemination of misleading content will face the full extent of the law.
“We encourage everyone to rely on official channels for accurate updates and to report any suspicious activities or content to the authorities.”
