Police clarifies viral video of school girl smoking in uniform

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigeria Police Force has addressed widespread concerns following the circulation of a disturbing video showing a school-aged girl smoking what appears to be cannabis, surrounded by classmates who are cheering her on.

The video, which has gone viral on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, was initially believed by many to have been recorded in a Nigerian school, sparking anxiety among parents and the wider Nigerian community.

However, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer in a statement on Thursday, said the Force’s preliminary investigation reveals that the video did not originate in Nigeria. Instead, multiple indicators point to Zimbabwe as the likely source.

“The evidence supporting this conclusion includes the language spoken within the video. Individuals featured are heard speaking in both English and Shona, the latter being a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of southern Africa. Critically, no Nigerian languages or discernable Nigerian accents are present in the audio. Furthermore, the original upload of the video was accompanied by a caption written in Shona, with its initial posting on the Instagram channel @rusape_celebs_tv, a channel which is demonstrably based in the town of Rusape, Zimbabwe.

“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, organizations, and entire communities. The Force strongly encourages responsible sharing of information and thorough verification of sources before amplifying potentially harmful claims,” Adejobi had written.