The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has responded to public concern following the circulation of a viral video showing a young school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis while surrounded by cheering peers. The video, widely shared across WhatsApp and other social media platforms, sparked outrage and speculation about the state of discipline in Nigerian schools.
However, the NPF has clarified that the incident did not occur in Nigeria.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, preliminary investigations revealed that the video most likely originated from Zimbabwe. He noted that the language spoken in the footage includes Shona — a local language predominantly used in Zimbabwe — and English, with no trace of Nigerian languages or accents.
Further checks traced the original video to an Instagram account, @rusape_celebs_tv, based in Rusape, a town in Zimbabwe. The caption accompanying the video was also written in Shona, reinforcing the conclusion that the video was not from Nigeria.
ACP Adejobi urged members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information, especially when it has the potential to mislead, incite fear, or damage reputations.
“We urge the public to exercise restraint and responsibility when sharing sensitive content online,” he stated.
The police emphasised the importance of media literacy and critical thinking in the digital age. Misinformation, especially when involving children and schools, can create unnecessary panic and further erode trust in institutions.
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