The Nigeria Police Force cautions the public against the dangerous trend of recirculating old videos to malign the Force and undermine national security, emphasizing that these videos do not reflect the current state of the Police
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has expressed deep concern regarding the ongoing trend of recirculating old videos on social media platforms with the intent to malign the Force and undermine national security.
Also read: Nigeria Police drop N1.3bln charge against MOB Integrated Limited
The NPF reiterates its previous warnings against such mischievous acts designed to portray the institution in a negative light.
The Force emphasizes that this pattern of reposting outdated videos, falsely depicting the present-day NPF, and disseminating falsehoods carries significant implications for internal security at a time when the Police are diligently working to build public trust and confidence.
Two specific instances of this malicious activity have been highlighted by the Force. The first involves a video of a Police Mobile Force (PMF) officer lamenting alleged poor conditions faced by officers deployed to Yobe State for operational duties.
The NPF clarifies that this video originally surfaced several years ago, and the concerns raised therein were promptly addressed through administrative channels.
The current recirculation of this video is viewed as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the institution’s reputation and incite unwarranted panic among Nigerians.
The second instance involves the resurfacing of an old video featuring an officer purportedly attached to the Force’s Counter Terrorism Unit.
In the video, the officer allegedly claimed that banditry is politically motivated, accused the government of endangering officers by deploying them to the front lines without adequate ammunition, and asserted that the Counter Force was being hindered from effectively combating bandits.
The Inspector-General of Police strongly cautions members of the public to be wary of the deliberate spread of falsehood to create tension amongst citizens, and ridicule the Police institution,” stated the Force Spokesperson.
The NPF states that this matter was thoroughly investigated at the time, and the allegations were found to be false, leading to disciplinary actions against the officers involved for raising a false alarm.
The Force unequivocally refutes and distances itself from the content of this video, asserting that it does not reflect the current realities within the Nigeria Police Force.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has issued a strong caution to members of the public, urging them to be vigilant against the deliberate spread of falsehood intended to create tension among citizens and ridicule the Police institution.
He further warned those engaging in such acts to cease immediately, as their actions undermine public confidence in national security institutions.
The IGP wishes to assure the general public that the Police leadership is actively implementing measures aimed at improving the welfare of officers and enhancing the operational efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force.
This commitment stands in stark contrast to the false narratives presented in the old videos being maliciously recirculated.
The Inspector-General of Police reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under his leadership, to proactively combat all forms of crime and criminality across the nation.
Also read: Nigeria police arrest four oil thieves, recover 40,000 litres of petroleum products
He urges members of the public to refrain from spreading falsehoods that could erode the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
