The Nigeria Police has issued a statement regarding a concerning video that has recently circulated on WhatsApp and various social media platforms.
According to a press release on Thursday, 19th June 2025, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the video depicts a school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis while being cheered on by her classmates. This troubling footage has sparked significant anxiety among Nigerian parents and the broader community, with many assuming it was recorded in Nigeria.
However, preliminary investigations indicate that the video likely did not originate in Nigeria. Evidence suggests that its origin is Zimbabwe, as indicated by several key factors. The individuals in the video are heard speaking both English and Shona, a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. Notably, there are no discernible Nigerian languages or accents in the audio.
Further supporting this conclusion, the original upload of the video appeared with a caption in Shona on the Instagram channel @rusape_celebs_tv, which is known to be based in Rusape, Zimbabwe.
In light of these findings, the Nigeria Police Force urges the public to refrain from sharing unverified information, particularly when sensitive content has the potential to affect individuals, organisations, and communities adversely. The Force emphasises the importance of responsible information sharing and encourages thorough verification of sources before disseminating potentially harmful claims.
