The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that a disturbing viral video showing schoolgirls smoking what appears to be cannabis is not from Nigeria but originates from Zimbabwe.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known on Thursday while cautioning the public against sharing unverified information.
He said, “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 explained that preliminary investigations revealed the video did not originate from 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.”
The police spokesperson further disclosed that the video was first posted on an Instagram channel linked to Zimbabwe.
“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 urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing, warning against the spread of unverified content.
“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 as the video had sparked widespread concern among Nigerian parents and educators about drug abuse in schools. Authorities continue to monitor social media trends to counter misinformation.
