Police debunk viral video alleging robbery at Abuja traffic stop

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has urged the general public to disregard the viral video circulating social media of motorists being harassed and robbed by armed individuals in Abuja.

The NPF debunked the video after conducting a digital forensics analysis which revealed that the incident actually took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and not Abuja, Nigeria.

In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday, April 25, debunked the video saying in part: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to address the recent circulation of a video on social media, where motorists at a traffic stop point were being harassed and robbed by armed individuals, purporting to depict an incident that occurred in Abuja, Nigeria.

“After conducting a thorough digital forensics analysis, the NPF-National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has determined that the incident actually took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“The video which was originally posted by an individual from South Africa on the 22nd of April 2024 on X social media platform, with the caption suggesting that it is dangerous to travel in Ethiopia without a handgun, was reposted by some mischief makers who alleged that the incident happened in Abuja in order to disinform the public, and thereby caused grave panic amongst residents in the Federal Capital, and its environs; and sent a wrong signal across the country which is counterproductive to our national safety and integrity.”