Police say viral video showing thugs beating protesters at Kwara govt house was doctored

…close investigation without any arrest, prosecution

The Kwara State Police Command has said that a viral video circulating on social media, which allegedly shows thugs assaulting protesters in front of the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin, was digitally manipulated.

This disclosure was contained in a statement signed and released on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.

According to the statement, investigations and forensic analysis conducted by the command revealed that the video was doctored and did not accurately represent events at the Government House.

It would be recalled that in December 2025, some protesters, mostly women, staged a peaceful demonstration over the continued detention of victims abducted from Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

During the protest, the demonstrators were reportedly attacked by suspected thugs, sparking public outrage and widespread condemnation.

Reacting to the incident at the time, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, condemned the alleged attack and called on the police to identify and prosecute those responsible.

However, the police stated that it received no formal complaint from any individual or group regarding the alleged assault, despite repeated public appeals for victims to come forward.

While reaffirming that peaceful protest remains a fundamental right of citizens, the command urged members of the public to adhere to established procedures, including prior notification to security agencies, before staging demonstrations.

Police Statement in Full

POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULT DURING PROTEST AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

The Kwara State Police Command is aware of a video and accompanying narrative circulating on social media concerning an alleged incident said to have occurred at the Government House gate on December 27, 2025.

A forensic analysis of the viral video conclusively established that it is a digitally manipulated composite. The footage was deliberately spliced, merging unrelated scenes of violent altercations with clips from a separate peaceful protest to falsely portray an incident at the Government House.

Further review revealed that some images being shared in connection with this incident originated from unrelated events that occurred several months earlier, a discrepancy that forms a key part of the investigation.

All efforts by the investigative team to locate and interview the purported victims—particularly the two women featured in the video—have so far been unsuccessful.

Additionally, the command has received zero official complaints from any individual or group regarding this alleged incident, despite public appeals for victims to report.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, psc, mnips, reiterated the importance of prior notification and coordination for any planned public demonstrations. This standard procedure enables the Nigeria Police Force to provide adequate security, prevent hoodlums from hijacking protests, and safeguard public safety while protecting citizens’ rights.

The Kwara State Police Command remains committed to maintaining public order and protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens. Members of the public are urged to verify information before sharing it.