The Nigeria Police Force has debunked a viral video circulating on social media that claimed Abuja was under a terrorist attack, describing the footage as a calculated attempt to spread fear and undermine public confidence in security agencies.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, said investigators reviewed the video and confirmed that no terrorist incident occurred in the Federal Capital Territory. According to him, the clip was pieced together from unrelated online footage and repackaged to suggest an ongoing coordinated assault in Abuja.

Placid explained that digital forensic analysis traced the origin of the video to a specific individual, leading to the arrest of one Pam Joseph. The suspect is alleged to have played a central role in curating and circulating the misleading content across multiple social media platforms, where it quickly gained traction and triggered public anxiety.

Police sources said the video was edited to include sounds of gunfire, scenes of chaos and misleading captions, giving the impression of a real-time attack on strategic locations in the city. Security agencies reportedly received a surge of distress calls from residents and institutions who feared an imminent threat.

The police spokesperson stressed that while Nigerians are free to express opinions and share information, that freedom does not cover the deliberate creation or distribution of false content capable of inciting panic or threatening national security. He warned that such acts fall under cybercrime and related offences and will be met with firm legal consequences.

Members of the public were urged to treat unverified videos and messages with caution, especially those that touch on security matters. Placid advised citizens to rely on official channels of communication and to report suspicious content to law enforcement rather than amplifying it.

The suspect, now in police custody, is expected to face charges in court after investigators conclude their work. The Force reiterated its commitment to tracking and prosecuting individuals who weaponise social media to spread fear, insisting that misinformation about security incidents can be as dangerous as the threats themselves.