The Gombe State Police Command has dismissed a viral video circulating on social media which falsely claimed that youths in the state were mobilising to confront insurgents.
The video, which spread widely on Facebook, showed gunshots being fired in the background and was misinterpreted by some users as a declaration of readiness to engage insurgent groups.
An accompanying caption further escalated the misunderstanding, suggesting that residents were preparing for self-defence and calling for the exposure of alleged collaborators.
... quickly gained traction online, sparking concern among viewers.
Police Clarify Origin Of Video
Reacting to the development on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Gombe State, Abdullahi Buhari, described the claim as false and misleading.
Buhari explained that the footage had no connection to any security mobilisation or insurgency-related activity, noting that it was recorded during a traditional celebration in the state.
According to him, the gunshots seen in the video were discharged by local hunters as part of festivities marking either Eid-el-Kabir or Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
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He added that the event was organised to honour the Emir of Gombe and took place within the palace environment, popularly referred to as the “kofa.”
Police Warn Against Misinformation
Buhari stressed that the misleading caption attached to the video was entirely unrelated to the actual event, adding that it appeared designed to attract attention and misinform the public.
“I have seen that video. It is a description of the event in the video. They wrote something entirely different from what was happening. I believe it was done to generate traffic and confuse the public,” he said.
He urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it online, warning that the spread of misinformation could trigger unnecessary panic and tension.
The police spokesperson also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in Gombe State, cautioning social media users against amplifying unverified or misleading content.