Police Debunk Viral Video of Schoolgirl Smoking as Non-Nigerian, Traces Origin to Zimbabwe

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims that a viral video of a schoolgirl smoking cannabis took place in a Nigerian school, stating that preliminary investigations indicate the footage originated from Zimbabwe.

The video, which has circulated widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, shows a young girl in school uniform smoking what appears to be cannabis while being cheered on by classmates. The disturbing content has sparked outrage and concern across Nigeria, particularly among parents and educators.

However, a press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, clarified that multiple indicators—especially linguistic clues—suggest the incident did not occur within Nigeria.

According to the police, the language spoken in the video includes Shona, a language predominantly spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of Southern Africa. No Nigerian languages or accents were detected in the clip. Additionally, the video’s first upload was traced to an Instagram account, @rusape_celebs_tv, based in Rusape, Zimbabwe.

“The Force urges the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information, particularly when such content is sensitive and potentially harmful to individuals and institutions,” the statement read.

The Nigeria Police emphasized the need for responsible online behavior and encouraged citizens to verify sources before spreading potentially damaging or misleading material.