Northern Cleric Challenges Police Claim Armed Men In Viral Katsina Video Were Vigilantes.
A prominent northern Islamic cleric, Sheikh Murtala Bello Asada Sokoto, has criticised the Nigeria Police Force over its denial of a viral video showing armed men riding motorcycles in Katsina State, questioning efforts to portray the individuals as anything other than terrorists.
The cleric's reaction followed a statement by the police dismissing widespread claims that a uniformed police officer was seen saluting armed bandits in the footage.
According to the police, the individuals captured in the video were not terrorists but local vigilantes.
However, Sheikh Asada rejected the explanation and shared another video in response, accusing the police of undermining public trust through what he described as a misleading narrative.
Speaking in Hausa in remarks monitored by SaharaReporters, the cleric said the police, despite their efforts to combat insecurity, were contributing to growing suspicion and mistrust among Nigerians.
According to him, attempts to reclassify armed bandits as non-terrorists raise serious questions about the message being sent to the public.
“These groups of armed bandits were returning from a peace meeting, if the attempt is to say that they are not terrorists, what message is being passed to the public?” Asada asked.
“Honestly, despite the goodwill and confidence we have in the Nigeria Police Force for their efforts, they are the ones creating doubt and mistrust between themselves and Nigerians.
“By God, I felt ashamed when I saw a statement attributed to them regarding a circulating video in which they claimed that the men in the footage were not bandits, [/b]even though the old video clearly showed armed bandits returning from a peace meeting.
[b]"Did they even listen to the audio in the Video? Are vigilantes now being given such heavy weapons? Do they realize how much that statement is damaging their credibility in the eyes of Nigerians?
The controversy began after a video circulated widely on social media showing dozens of armed men riding motorcycles while a police officer in uniform appeared to salute them as they passed.
The footage stirred outrage and concern among Nigerians, many of whom identified the men as armed bandits responsible for years of attacks, killings, kidnappings and cattle rustling across communities in Nigeria's North-West region.
In response to the public backlash, the police denied that the men were terrorists, insisting that they were members of local vigilante groups.
The explanation, however, has continued to generate criticism from several Nigerians, including Sheikh Asada, who argued that the visible weapons carried by the men and the circumstances surrounding the video were inconsistent with the police's account.
The cleric maintained that statements perceived as shielding or downplaying the activities of armed groups risk eroding public confidence in security agencies at a time when communities across northern Nigeria continue to face persistent security threats.
“Bandits with their weapons are moving freely,” a man who recorded the video could be heard saying in Hausa.
However, another man in the vehicle quickly asked him to keep quiet.
“Please keep quiet, why are you talking?” he said.
Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, and many other states in North-West and North-Central Nigeria are bedevilled by bandit attacks.
The bandits kill and kidnap at will despite the large deployment of police officers and soldiers to the affected states.
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