As the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) struggles to defend itself against a viral footage of its operatives idly hailing armed bandits as they pass freely through a checkpoint in the Northwest region, another online video showing police operatives sharing Hennessey alcoholic drink with a motorist at a stop-and-search checkpoint poohpoohs on the image of the beleaguered NPF
By Our Correspondent
In a recent the video circulating online, some police officers were seen directing and hailing a large number of gunmen as they passed through a checkpoint on their motorcycles.
The video showed numerous armed bandits passing through a police checkpoint freely.
According to security sources, the incident happened recently between Zamfara and Sokoto states.
“Bandits with their weapons are moving freely,” a man who recorded the video could be heard saying in Hausa.
However, another man in the vehicle quickly asked him to keep quiet.
“Please keep quiet, why are you talking?” he said.
Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, and many other states in North-West and North-Central Nigeria are bedevilled by bandit attacks.
The bandits kill and kidnap at will despite the large deployment of police officers and soldiers to the affected states, fueling suspicion that the authorities are complicit in the unending insecurity ravaging many parts of the North.
In 2019, the Zamfara State government under former governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, entered into a peace agreement with the gunmen.
But despite the accord, communities in the state were frequently attacked, and residents were kidnapped and/or killed.
But the NPF quickly dismissed claims that a viral video circulating on social media showed police officers interacting with armed bandits in Katsina State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 the Force described the allegation as false and misleading, insisting that the individuals seen in the footage were members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters assisting security agencies in ongoing operations.
According to the police, the video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they travelled to an operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
The Force said the volunteers are recognised community-based security personnel working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to combat criminal activities and improve security in the area.
It maintained that reports identifying the individuals as bandits were inaccurate and intended to misinform the public.
The police further condemned the circulation of what it described as distorted and misleading information, warning that such claims could create unnecessary fear, undermine public confidence in security institutions and hamper ongoing security efforts.
The Force urged Nigerians to disregard the narrative attached to the video and rely on verified information from official police channels and authorised government sources.
It also warned against the spread of false information capable of threatening public peace and security, noting that those found responsible could face legal action.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling crime, the Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to collaborate with legitimate community security groups and other stakeholders to enhance safety and protect lives and property across the country.
However, the NPF is at a loss on how to explain a recent viral video showing an armed police officer drinking from a bottle of Hennessy alcoholic drink during a stop-and-check operation. The video which has been circulating on the social media space, analysts argued, has equally exposed the rot within the NPF.
In the less than one-minute video, the officer was seen drinking from the bottle while interacting with occupants of a stationary vehicle.
The officer can be heard calling out figures while one of the occupants presses his phone in what appears to be financial transaction or solicitation.
According to section 100 (1) of the Nigeria Police Act 2021, it is unlawful for a police officer to take alcohol and psychotropic substances while on duty.
“While on duty, a police officer shall not take any intoxicating liquor, psychotropic substances, or stimulants, where he does, he shall be punished in accordance with the police disciplinary procedures,” section 100 (1) of the Act reads.
Reacting to the video, Aliyu Giwa, new media officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), said the force is working to identify the police officer in question.
“The Force leadership is aware of a viral video that appears to show a Police officer allegedly soliciting financial gratification and drinking from a bottle believed to contain alcohol while interacting with vehicle occupants,” Giwa said.
“We are working to identify the officer, determine the location, and clarify the circumstances of the incident.
“The Force assures the public that appropriate action will follow the outcome of the inquiry.”
