The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly circulating a fabricated video falsely portraying a terrorist attack in Abuja.
The suspect was arrested following the viral circulation of the video on April 9, 2026, which appeared to show gunfire and an ongoing security incident within the nation’s capital, sparking panic among some residents.
CP, FCT Abuja
Addressing journalists on Friday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said preliminary investigations revealed that the video was deliberately manipulated and falsely presented as a real-time attack.
According to him, digital forensic analysis traced the origin of the clip to a resident identified as Pam Joshua.
He explained that the suspect allegedly compiled the video using unrelated footage and gunshot sound effects sourced from the social media platform TikTok, and circulated it with captions designed to incite fear and public alarm.
“The content was entirely fabricated and falsely presented as an ongoing terrorist attack in Abuja,” the Commissioner said, adding that there was no security breach in the Federal Capital Territory.
Sanusi assured residents that Abuja remains safe and that security agencies are maintaining vigilance to protect lives and property across the city.
The police command warned social media users and content creators against spreading false information, noting that such actions pose serious risks to public safety and are punishable under the law.
Authorities said the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were also urged to remain calm, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity to security agencies through official channels.
