By Prosper Mene
The Nigerian Police Force has debunked claims that a viral video showing a schoolgirl smoking what appears to be cannabis originated in Nigeria, clarifying that the incident took place in Zimbabwe. The video, which sparked widespread concern among Nigerian parents, had been falsely captioned as occurring in a Nigerian school.
In a statement released on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi urged the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information. “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a deeply concerning video circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, depicting a school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis, surrounded and cheered on by her classmates,” Adejobi said. “Preliminary investigations strongly suggest the video did not originate in Nigeria, with multiple indicators pointing to Zimbabwe as its likely origin.”
The police identified key evidence supporting their conclusion, including the absence of Nigerian languages or accents in the video’s audio. Instead, the individuals featured were heard speaking English and Shona, a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. Additionally, the original video was posted on the Instagram account @rusape_celebs_tv, based in Rusape, Zimbabwe, with a caption written in Shona.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has also acknowledged the video, noting that it shows a schoolgirl smoking what appears to be dagga (marijuana) during a birthday celebration. The ZRP has launched a formal investigation to address the incident, which has raised concerns about drug use among schoolchildren in Zimbabwe.
The viral spread of the video, falsely attributed to Nigeria, caused significant anxiety among Nigerian parents and communities. Adejobi emphasized the importance of responsible information sharing to prevent unnecessary panic and reputational harm. “The Force strongly encourages thorough verification of sources before amplifying potentially harmful claims,” he stated.
This incident sheds light on the dangers of misinformation on social media and the need for vigilance in verifying content before sharing. The Nigerian Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to combating false narratives while urging the public to rely on credible sources for accurate information.
