Odita Sunday 
Ogun Police Debunk Viral ‘Bandits in Forest’ Video, Say Footage Was Filmed in Kenya
By Odita Sunday
The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media video claiming to show armed bandits operating within a forest in Ogun State, revealing that the footage was actually recorded in Kenya and has been deliberately recycled to spread fear among residents.
The Command,in a statement signed by DSP OLUSEYI B. BABASEYI, Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, said investigations and fact-checks conducted on the video established that it neither originated from Ogun State nor anywhere in Nigeria, contrary to claims accompanying its circulation online.
According to the police, the footage depicts individuals cooking in a bush environment during an operation involving cattle rustlers in Kenya and was captured by a General Service Unit (GSU) drone.
Authorities further disclosed that the video first surfaced online in 2022 before being repackaged with a false narrative suggesting the presence of armed criminals in Ogun forests.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, condemned the dissemination of unverified and deceptive content, warning that such misinformation is capable of creating unnecessary panic and eroding public confidence in security agencies.
The police chief stressed that there is no intelligence or operational report indicating the existence of the alleged criminal camps within forests or any other part of Ogun State.
He reassured residents that the Command remains committed to protecting lives and property through intelligence-led policing, strategic deployments and sustained security operations across the state.
CP Ojajuni urged members of the public to disregard the viral video and refrain from sharing unverified information capable of inciting fear or disrupting public peace. He advised residents to rely solely on official communication channels for authentic security updates.
The Commissioner also called on citizens to continue supporting the police with credible and timely information, warning that the spread of false information and other inciting content would not be tolerated.
The Command encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through its emergency response channels as part of ongoing efforts to maintain security and public safety across Ogun State.
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