Viral Schoolgirl Smoking Cannabis Not Nigerian — Police Confirm Zimbabwean Origin of Video

Nigeria’s police authorities have officially debunked the claim that a viral video showing a schoolgirl smoking cannabis surrounded by cheering peers took place within the country. The disturbing clip, which spread like wildfire across WhatsApp and other platforms, triggered public outrage and fear among Nigerian parents. However, investigations now confirm the footage originated from Zimbabwe.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, made this clarification in a public statement on Thursday, June 20, warning citizens against spreading misleading content without verification. He noted that the police were prompted to act after receiving countless calls from anxious citizens who believed the footage reflected growing drug abuse among Nigerian students.

Linguistic analysis of the video formed the crux of the investigation. According to Adejobi, none of the voices in the clip bore Nigerian linguistic identity. Rather, the students were heard speaking in English and Shona—Zimbabwe’s dominant local language—strongly suggesting the video’s Southern African origin.

Further digital forensics traced the first upload of the video to an Instagram handle, @rusape_celebs_tv, which is based in Rusape, a town in eastern Zimbabwe. The accompanying caption was also written in Shona, confirming that the disturbing clip had no link to any Nigerian school, student, or environment.

The Police emphasized that such misinformation can spark unnecessary panic and tarnish the country’s image, especially when Nigerian youths are already battling the stigma of global negative narratives. Adejobi urged bloggers, influencers, and content sharers to verify the authenticity of videos before uploading or reacting to them online.

Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies say they remain committed to safeguarding the moral well-being of schoolchildren and monitoring drug abuse trends. The Force called on schools, parents, and community leaders to remain vigilant while also helping to curtail the circulation of false, damaging content.

The statement comes at a time when internet virality can easily distort facts. The police say this incident serves as a reminder that “not everything that goes viral is valid,” and they urged the public to uphold digital responsibility and collective national image.