By The Nigeria Police Force has dispelled widespread assumptions that a viral video of a schoolgirl smoking what appears to be cannabis originated in Nigeria, clarifying that the footage is most likely from Zimbabwe.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the disturbing video, which shows a young school-aged girl smoking while being cheered on by peers, has sparked outrage and concern among Nigerian parents and the public. However, he noted that preliminary investigations strongly indicate that the video did not emanate from any Nigerian location.
“Our findings point to the video being filmed in Zimbabwe, not Nigeria, contrary to viral claims circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms,” Adejobi said.
He explained that linguistic analysis of the video revealed the presence of Shona, a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa, alongside English. Importantly, no Nigerian languages or accents could be identified in the audio.
“The original version of the video was captioned in Shona and initially posted on an Instagram account, @rusape_celebs_tv, which is based in Rusape, Zimbabwe,” Adejobi added.
The Police urged members of the public to avoid spreading unverified content, especially when such materials carry the potential to stir public anxiety or misrepresent facts.
“We urge the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information, particularly when it involves sensitive content and carries the potential to negatively impact individuals, organisations, and entire communities,” the statement read.
ACP Adejobi concluded by encouraging Nigerians to be more discerning and responsible with social media content, reminding them of the importance of verifying facts before amplifying them.
The Force’s clarification comes amid rising concerns about drug use and peer pressure among schoolchildren, as well as the dangers of misinformation on social media.
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