The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed claims linking a viral forest video circulating on social media to the state, stating that preliminary investigations indicate the footage was neither recorded in Ogun State nor anywhere else in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said available information and independent verification efforts revealed that the video originated outside Nigeria and had previously appeared online before being recirculated with a misleading narrative.
According to the command, the footage, which shows a group of individuals in a bush environment, was originally uploaded several years ago and has only recently resurfaced on social media platforms.
Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, urged members of the public to exercise caution and avoid sharing unverified content capable of causing unnecessary panic.
“The video currently circulating on social media has not been linked to Ogun State based on findings available to the Command,” Ojajuni stated.
He noted that misinformation and the spread of false narratives could generate unwarranted anxiety among residents and advised the public to rely on credible and official sources for information.
The police commissioner further stated that the command had no intelligence or operational reports indicating that the activities depicted in the video were taking place in Ogun State.
Ojajuni reassured residents that the command remains committed to maintaining security across the state through sustained surveillance and ongoing security operations.
He also encouraged members of the public to support law enforcement agencies by providing timely and credible information on suspicious activities within their communities.
The Ogun State Police Command reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged residents to remain vigilant while cooperating with security agencies in the collective effort to ensure public safety.