The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has debunked a viral video claiming that terrorists were advancing on Abuja amid heavy gunfire, describing the footage as fabricated and intended to incite panic.
In a statement, police spokesperson Joseph Adeh said investigations revealed that the gunshot sounds in the video were edited from an unrelated source and overlaid on visuals from an unidentified construction site, with no connection to the FCT.
“The claim is false, misleading, and deliberately designed to incite panic and misinform members of the public,” Adeh said.
She stressed that there had been no recorded attack or security breach anywhere in Abuja, urging residents to disregard the video and avoid spreading unverified information.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, reassured residents of their safety, highlighting recent operational successes against criminal elements.
During a security tour of border communities in Bwari Area Council, Sanusi led targeted raids in Gidandogo, Garam, and Kungabako villages, resulting in the arrest of three suspected kidnappers.
“While assuring members of the public of the command’s commitment to public safety, residents are urged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities,” Sanusi said.
Police identified the suspects as Nasiru Abdullahi, Samaila Dahiru, and Bello Usman, also known as Dagejo. Preliminary findings linked two of them to the abduction of a farmer in Gushawai village, who was later rescued after a N50 million ransom demand.
Authorities also alleged the suspects were part of a gang responsible for abducting multiple victims in nearby communities, while Usman was described as a long-wanted logistics supplier coordinating with bandits.
Items recovered from him included an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and live ammunition.
The command warned content creators against spreading false information capable of causing fear and disorder.
“The command strongly cautions against the dissemination of false content capable of causing panic,” Adeh added.
The development comes amid heightened global concern over Nigeria’s security situation, following a travel advisory by the United States Department of State urging its citizens to reconsider travel due to risks such as terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.
Despite the advisory, U.S. authorities noted continued security cooperation with Nigeria, including intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism support.
