The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has debunked a viral social-media video that claimed terrorists launched an attack in Abuja, describing the footage as fake, manipulated and capable of inciting panic.
The video, which circulated across TikTok, WhatsApp and X, contained loud gunshot sounds laid over unrelated footage from an unidentified location. It was captioned to suggest that the nation’s capital was under siege, prompting fear among residents and triggering widespread speculation.
But the FCT Police Commissioner, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said forensic checks immediately ordered by the Command confirmed that no attack occurred anywhere in the FCT, and the clip did not originate from any incident within the territory.
CP Sanusi, at a press briefing on Friday explained that investigators traced the source of the video to one Pam Joshua, a 24-year-old resident who allegedly staged the entire content.
He said “Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect, one Pam Joshua, a 24-year-old resident of Abuja, deliberately fabricated the video using gunshot sounds and video footage sourced from TikTok and falsely presented it as an ongoing terrorist attack in Abuja, with captions designed to incite panic and cause fear.”
The police commissioner added that Joshua had been arrested and would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations. He stressed that the Command would not tolerate the spread of dangerous misinformation capable of causing fear or disrupting public order.
“While the Command continues to work hard round the clock to safeguard residents of the FCT, we urge content creators and consumers alike to desist from creating or sharing false information capable of causing fear and panic.”
Reassuring residents, he said: “The FCT remains safe,” noting that police formations continue round-the-clock patrols and surveillance across the territory.
The Commissioner urged the public to verify information before sharing, and to report suspicious activity through the Police emergency lines rather than relying on unverified social-media content.
“I would like to urge all residents of the FCT to remain vigilant and security-conscious, and promptly report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines.
