The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed a viral video circulating on social media which allegedly depicts scenes connected to the recent abduction of school children and teachers in Oyo State, clarifying that the footage is unrelated to the incident and originated outside Nigeria.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, the Force described the clip as an old video being deliberately recycled to spread misinformation and trigger unnecessary panic among members of the public.
According to the police, “This video is unrelated to the incident and is being used to spread misinformation and cause unnecessary panic.”
The Force warned that the circulation of unverified content online could distort public understanding of ongoing security operations and potentially hinder efforts to rescue the abducted victims.
Citizens were urged to rely strictly on verified information from official channels and refrain from sharing misleading materials capable of escalating fear and anxiety.
Security agencies also confirmed that rescue operations have intensified following the abduction in Oyo State, with additional personnel and intelligence resources deployed to support ongoing efforts aimed at locating and rescuing the victims.
Officials assured the public that coordinated operations remain underway to secure the safe return of the abducted school children and teachers.
“The Force remains committed to the victims’ rescue,” the statement added.
Although authorities declined to disclose further operational details, they maintained that all available resources were being deployed in the search mission.
The police further appealed to the public to exercise caution when posting or reposting sensitive security-related content online, stressing that misinformation could create confusion and undermine ongoing rescue operations.
The Force reiterated that official statements from security agencies remain the most reliable source of information as investigations and rescue efforts continue.