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The Nigerian Police has dismissed a viral video claiming that students abducted by terrorists in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are being tortured and subjected to inhumane treatment by their abductors.
In the video, some people are seen sitting on the ground blindfolded while other men torture them with a burning keg. The blindfolded individuals can be seen writhing in pain. The video has been widely shared across social media platforms, including WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter).
Aliyu Giwa, the Nigeria Police Force New Media Officer, in a post shared on X, urged Nigerians to refrain from sharing the video, stating that it did not originate from Nigeria.
Please refrain from sharing the video, as it did not originate from Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police Force has observed a video circulating online being falsely linked to the Oyo school children abduction incident.
To clarify, the video in question did not originate from Nigeria and… https://t.co/UeBRprw6yi pic.twitter.com/uBmrhYrvHC
— Aliyu Giwa (@aleeygiwa) May 29, 2026
“The Nigeria Police Force has observed a video circulating online being falsely linked to the Oyo school children abduction incident,” said Giwa.
“To clarify, the video in question did not originate from Nigeria and is unrelated to the Oyo incident. It is foreign footage deliberately circulated to mislead the public and disrupt the ongoing rescue operation.
“This is a deliberate act of misinformation. We recognise the fear and concern motivating these shares. Parents are understandably distressed, communities are deeply affected, and all Nigerians want the safe return of the children.”
Earlier, another image showing children with marks on their backs went viral, with some social media users claiming it depicted the children abducted on May 16. The claim was later debunked after it was established that the image did not originate from Nigeria.
According to Giwa, sharing foreign videos as evidence of the incident does not help the affected children and may compromise ongoing rescue efforts.
He also assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies have intensified rescue operations. He said intelligence-led efforts are ongoing and that all available resources are being deployed to ensure the safe return of the children and teachers.
“Individuals intentionally circulating this false footage are hindering the rescue efforts. The Nigeria Police Force is monitoring these activities,” he added.
“We urge well-meaning Nigerians to verify before they share. Report credible information to security agencies. And trust that the people working to rescue those children are not resting.
“Not for a single moment.”
Terrorists abducted over 40 students between the ages of 2 and 16 from three schools and their teachers in Oriire on May 16. The abducted children and teachers still remain in captivity over a week later.
One of their teachers was killed by the terrorists, and Nigerians have pleaded with the government to rescue the abductees and reunite them with their families.
