The Nigeria Police Force has debunked claims that a viral video showing schoolgirls smoking what appears to be cannabis was recorded in Nigeria, confirming that the footage actually originated from Zimbabwe.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, issued the clarification on Thursday, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information, especially content that may incite fear or misinformation.
He stated, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a deeply concerning video currently circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, depicting a school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis, surrounded and cheered on by her classmates. The video has been widely shared with captions suggesting the incident occurred within a Nigerian school, prompting significant concern and anxiety amongst Nigerian parents and the wider community.”
ACP Adejobi said a preliminary investigation conducted by the Force indicates that the video was not filmed in Nigeria.
“However, a preliminary investigation into its origin strongly suggests that the video did not originate in Nigeria, with multiple indicators pointing towards the video’s likely origin being in Zimbabwe. The evidence supporting this conclusion includes the language spoken within the video. Individuals featured are heard speaking in both English and Shona, the latter being a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. Critically, no Nigerian languages or discernable Nigerian accents are present in the audio.”
He added that the video first appeared on an Instagram account linked to a Zimbabwean town.
“Furthermore, the original upload of the video was accompanied by a caption written in Shona, with its initial posting on the Instagram channel @rusape_celebs_tv, a channel which is demonstrably based in the town of Rusape, Zimbabwe.”
The police called on Nigerians to be responsible in sharing content, especially when it involves sensitive material with the potential to cause harm or panic.
“We urge the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information, particularly when it involves sensitive content and carries the potential to impact individuals, organizations, and entire communities negatively. The Force strongly encourages responsible sharing of information and thorough verification of sources before amplifying potentially harmful claims.”
The clarification comes amid heightened concern among parents and education stakeholders about substance abuse among students. The Nigeria Police reiterated its commitment to tracking misinformation and addressing public concerns swiftly.
