The Osun State Police Command has rejected a viral video purportedly showing police officers running away from a drone, describing the footage as misleading and taken out of context.
According to the Command, the video was recorded during the production of a Yoruba movie and had nothing to do with an actual police operation.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi.
Ojelabi identified the film as Omije Fun Omije Part 2, which was shot in May 2026.
The Command explained that a police patrol vehicle was used as part of the movie production. During one scene, an actor wearing a police uniform was briefly left outside the moving vehicle before running after it and climbing back inside.
A person who was not part of the film crew reportedly recorded the scene and later uploaded it online with a caption suggesting that police officers were fleeing from a drone.
The police said the drone seen in the video was part of the movie production equipment and was being used to record the scene.
It stressed that the aircraft was not involved in an operational pursuit of police personnel.
The Command therefore rejected the claim that serving officers had run away from a drone.
“The Command rejects any narrative that serving officers ‘ran away’ from a drone.”
It described the claim as misleading and damaging to the reputation of the police.
The Command also faulted the circulation of the footage without verifying its origin or context.
It warned that journalists and media organisations have a responsibility to establish the authenticity and background of visual material before publishing it, particularly when such content is capable of affecting the reputation of a security institution.
The police said presenting staged footage as evidence of police cowardice or misconduct could cause significant reputational damage.
The Osun Command called on individuals and platforms that shared the video with the misleading caption to withdraw the narrative and publish corrections.
It urged the public to stop presenting staged or unrelated footage as proof of misconduct by police officers.
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The Command said it remained committed to lawful and professional policing and would continue working to protect lives and property across the state.
While stating that it remained open to factual and responsible reporting, the Command warned against what it described as deliberate manipulation of images, videos and media reports.
“What we will not accept is the deliberate distortion of images, videos or any media report to drag the Command through the mud.”
The police urged the public and media practitioners to verify viral content before sharing or publishing it, especially where the material involves security agencies or ongoing public concerns.
