Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
GOMBE, Nigeria – The Gombe State Police Command has dismissed a viral social media video that suggested youths in the state were mobilising to confront insurgents, clarifying that the footage was actually recorded during a traditional Sallah celebration by local hunters honouring the Emir of Gombe. The video, which circulated widely on Facebook, featured gunshots in the background and was accompanied by a caption that read: “Gombe is ready to protect itself. Nigerians are ready to face the monster and that’s the bravest way to eliminate it. Fish out all the collaborators within, then face the dragon and slay it. If you have to dig out the gods of your forefathers, do it. The fact is the state police is no longer a debate, it’s a must!”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdullahi Buhari, told journalists on Saturday, June 6, 2026, that the video had nothing to do with security operations or any mobilisation against insurgents. According to him, the footage was recorded during a traditional celebration organised by local hunters to honour the Emir of Gombe during the Sallah festivities. “That was a video done by hunters in celebration of the Islamic celebration. It’s usually done to celebrate either Eid-el-Kabir or Eid-el-Fitr in the state. They did that to usher in the Emir of Gombe. If you noticed, the environment is around the kofa (premises) of the king,” Buhari said.
The police spokesman accused those behind the viral post of deliberately misrepresenting the event to attract attention and create confusion among members of the public. “I have seen that video. It’s a description of the event in the video. They wrote something entirely different from what was happening in the video. I guess it was written to get traffic and confuse the public. If you listened to what was said, the description was wrong,” he added. Buhari urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it, warning that misinformation could create unnecessary panic and confusion. He reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state and cautioned social media users against spreading unverified information.
The Gombe State Police Command, which currently has personnel deployed across strategic locations to ensure a hitch‑free Sallah celebration, has also been actively involved in counter‑insurgency and anti‑crime operations under Operation Hattara. In recent months, police tactical teams under Operation Hattara, in collaboration with hunters and vigilante groups, have successfully neutralised bandits and rescued kidnapped victims in various parts of the state. While the viral video was not linked to any official security initiative, the officers and men remain on the ground actively safeguarding lives and property across the state.
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