The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismissed a viral video allegedly showing its officers engaging in misconduct while on official duty.
In the now-widely circulated footage, some persons — wearing NDLEA jackets — appeared to be taking drugs inside a minibus.
In a statement on Tuesday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, clarified that “those people in the video are not NDLEA officers.”
The agency said the video is an old skit produced by a content creator named Matthew C Eze.
The spokesperson added that the NDLEA had disclaimed the footage in May 2022.
Trending video of NDLEA officers in a minibus is an old skit, not real pic.twitter.com/8vd3ssUM5B
— NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) April 25, 2023
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The NDLEA also warned content producers to use law enforcement paraphernalia “responsibly to avoid misconceptions”.
The agency added that misuse of official jackets will have consequences.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) wishes to reiterate that a trending video of some persons wearing red jackets similar to the ones used by officers and men of the agency for operational purposes, operating in a minibus, is an old skit, which the agency had disclaimed a year ago,” the statement reads.
“The agency had a well publicised statement released on Saturday 21st May 2022 stated that it had established, following a series of public inquiries, that the video with screenshot pictures attached to the statement is a skit produced by one Matthew C Eze who lives in the Lekki area of Lagos.
“A year after, the video has returned to the social media space, a development that has led to several enquiries from concerned members of the public on the authenticity of the content of the video.
“We will like to reiterate again that the confusion the controversial video has created in the minds of members of the public underscores the need for some social media content producers to show restraint, responsibility and decorum in how they misuse paraphernalia of law enforcement officers to avoid misconceptions and insinuations.
“The agency will also like to remind those fond of this kind of indiscretion, especially the misuse of its official jackets to mislead and create false impressions, that such has consequences.”
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