The Kwara State Police Command has officially labeled a viral video depicting the alleged assault of female protesters at the Government House in Ilorin as "fake and misleading," revealing that the footage was digitally manipulated to incite public anger.

The controversy stems from a video that began circulating following a protest on December 27, 2025. The clips appeared to show security operatives or hoodlums brutalizing women who were demonstrating against regional insecurity. However, in a statement released on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stated that a forensic analysis proved the video was a "composite clip."

According to the police, the video was created by splicing unrelated, violent scenes from old incidents with footage from a peaceful gathering in Ilorin. "The video currently circulating is a digitally manipulated composite... deliberately edited to create a false narrative," the statement clarified.

Key findings from the police investigation include:

Old Footage: Some images shared alongside the video were traced back to separate incidents that occurred several months ago.

Missing Victims: Investigative teams have been unable to locate or identify the two women featured in the viral clip despite public appeals.

Zero Complaints: No individual or group has come forward to lodge a formal complaint regarding the alleged assault.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, warned that such "deepfake" content poses a threat to public order. He urged residents to verify information before sharing and reminded protest organizers to always liaise with the command to prevent hoodlums from hijacking peaceful demonstrations.

While the government had initially expressed concern and ordered an investigation on December 29, these forensic findings suggest that the specific scenes of violence being shared on social media did not take place during the Ilorin protest.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adekimi Ojo, warned against the spread of unverified information capable of inciting public disorder.

He reiterated the need for organisers of public demonstrations to always notify and liaise with security agencies ahead of time, noting that such coordination enables the police to provide adequate security, prevent infiltration by hoodlums and ensure the safety of participants and members of the public.

The police boss assured residents that the command remains committed to protecting citizens' rights while maintaining law and order across the state.

"The Kwara State Police Command remains dedicated to safeguarding lives and property and urges members of the public to verify information before sharing it," the statement added.

The command also cautioned against the deliberate circulation of false or misleading content capable of undermining public peace, stressing that such acts could attract legal consequences.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq directed the Kwara State Police Command to immediately carry out an investigation following widespread public outrage over the video, which surfaced online claiming that female protesters were assaulted during a demonstration at the seat of government on December 27, 2025.

The incident had earlier drawn public attention after reports emerged that women protesting over alleged socio-economic concerns were manhandled by thugs in the presence of security agents.