The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims linking a viral video of a schoolgirl smoking cannabis to any school in the country. The police said findings revealed that the footage, which has sparked anxiety among parents and social media users, originated from Zimbabwe.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known on Thursday while cautioning the public against spreading unverified information, especially on sensitive matters.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the police explained that a preliminary investigation pointed to multiple indicators confirming the video’s source as Zimbabwe. One of the major clues was the language spoken in the video, where those featured communicated in English and Shona, a language spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. The police added that no Nigerian languages or accents were heard in the recording.
Further checks revealed that the video was first uploaded with a caption written in Shona on an Instagram account identified as @rusape_celebs_tv, which operates from Rusape, a town in Zimbabwe.
The police appealed to Nigerians to be mindful of the content they share online, noting that circulating unverified information could cause unnecessary panic and harm to individuals, organizations, and communities.
The statement stressed the importance of responsible social media use and urged the public to verify the authenticity of sensitive material before reposting or forwarding it.
