The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) say a viral video depicting a robbery incident purported to have occurred in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja was a misnomer.
Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the NPF, said the incident was found to have occurred in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after the video was subjected to “thorough digital forensic analysis”.
In the night time video, motorists at a traffic stop were seen being harassed and robbed by armed individuals.
Adejobi said on April 22, an individual from South Africa posted the video on X, with a caption stating that it is dangerous to travel in Ethiopia without a handgun.
He said the video was subsequently reposted by some “mischief makers” who alleged that the incident happened in Abuja.
Adejobi said Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, has directed a thorough investigation to fish out those behind the false claim, adding that legal actions will be taken against the culprits.
“The Inspector General of Police hereby re-emphasizes the importance of accurate information dissemination, and urges the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of videos and news circulating on social media platforms, as all forms of misleading contents can cause unnecessary fear and panic among the populace,” the statement reads.
