The Ogun State Police Command has rejected claims made in a viral video said to show bandits operating inside a forest in the state, describing the footage as false, misleading and deliberately recycled to spread panic.
In a statement issued on Sunday, police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi said investigations showed that the video did not originate from Ogun State or anywhere in Nigeria, contrary to the narrative attached to it on social media.
According to the command, preliminary checks traced the footage to Kenya, where it was reportedly recorded during a security operation involving suspected cattle rustlers.
Police said the material was captured using a drone operated by Kenya’s General Service Unit and later reposted online with a false claim linking it to insecurity in Ogun State.
Further verification, according to the command, indicated that the video first appeared online in 2022 before being recirculated recently with a misleading caption intended to create fear and confusion.
The statement suggested that the reuse of old foreign footage as local breaking news reflects a growing pattern of misinformation in which unrelated images and videos are repackaged to distort public perception.
Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni condemned the circulation of the video, warning that the spread of unverified security claims can damage public trust and generate unnecessary anxiety among residents.
He said false reports of this nature are capable of undermining confidence in security agencies and distracting attention from genuine public safety issues.
Ojajuni also dismissed suggestions that armed groups were operating inside forests in the state, saying there was no intelligence report or operational evidence supporting such claims in Ogun State.
He reassured residents that the police command remains active in securing communities through intelligence-led policing, strategic deployments and continuous monitoring of security developments across the state.
The command urged the public to ignore the viral footage and exercise caution before forwarding dramatic security-related content whose source has not been verified.
Residents were also encouraged to rely on official channels and credible sources for security information, particularly when claims involve threats capable of causing widespread alarm.
The police added that the spread of false information and inciting content would not be tolerated, signaling that those responsible for intentionally circulating harmful misinformation could face consequences under the law.
The incident highlights increasing concerns over the misuse of recycled videos on social media, where old or unrelated footage is often republished with false local claims to provoke fear or gain attention online.
