Eric Patrick
The Nigeria Police Force has responded to a viral video showing a school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis while being cheered on by her classmates, clarifying that the incident did not occur in Nigeria.
The video, which has gone viral on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, sparked outrage and concern among Nigerian parents and members of the public, many of whom believed it was filmed within a Nigerian school.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, preliminary investigations indicate that the video originated in Zimbabwe, not Nigeria.
“Multiple indicators, including the language spoken in the clip, point strongly to Zimbabwe as the likely location of the incident,” Adejobi stated.
“The individuals in the video are heard speaking in both English and Shona — a language commonly spoken in Zimbabwe and some parts of southern Africa.
“No Nigerian languages or accents are present.”
Further investigation revealed that the video was initially posted on an Instagram page identified as @rusape_celebs_tv, a social media channel known to be based in Rusape, Zimbabwe.
The original caption accompanying the post was also written in Shona.
The Police, however, warned against the spread of unverified content, especially material that can spark unnecessary panic or harm reputations.
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“We urge the public to exercise restraint and responsibility when sharing sensitive content online.
“Spreading unverified information can have serious consequences for individuals, institutions, and communities,” Adejobi said.
The Force reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring digital content that could incite unrest or misinform the public and encouraged Nigerians to report suspicious materials through appropriate channels.
“For media inquiries or to report viral misinformation, please contact the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja,” Adejobi concluded.