Claim: An X user shared a video of a senior official of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, recently abducted by armed bandits while travelling to Kebbi State.
Verdict: Misleading. While Inspector Kabiru Bello was abducted alongside two other victims, the footage is outdated. Reports indicate that the officer has since been released.
Full Text
On Aug. 24, 2026, an X user, PATRIOTIC SOJA ($TSIR-MUNCHAN) (@Pressman2040), posted a video claiming that an official of the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, was ambushed and abducted by bandits en route to Kebbi State.
The viral footage depicts three captives, including an officer identified as Inspector Kabiru Bello, in a forested location surrounded by armed men. The captives plead with authorities, relatives, and the public for intervention.
The post’s caption (archive here) reads, “A senior official of the Police Academy, Wudil, has been abducted by armed b@nd!ts while travelling to Kebbi State. Details are still sketchy, but the news has sent shockwaves through the force and beyond. This is not just about one man; it’s about the state of security on our highways.”
The post prompted reactions from social media users.
An X user, ManGod (@onyi84432509), commented, “Shockwaves? While this is sad news, I don’t believe it will send shockwaves to anybody in Nigeria except the family of the officer. We are in serious trouble in this country.”
Another user, Olayinka (@Olayink79), reacted, “Oh!!! May he come back alive. There are informers in the Nigerian forces. Please look over your back anytime.”
As of Aug. 25, 2026, the post accumulated over 3,590 views, 33 reactions, 16 reposts, and 10 replies within hours of publication.
Similar versions of the video surfaced across Facebook here and here.
Given this is a security claim and its potential to cause panic, DUBAWA decided to verify it.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a reverse image search of keyframes extracted from the viral clip and revealed that the footage is not recent.
The video originally surfaced online months earlier, having been widely posted across Facebook on Jan. 4 and 5, 2026, by various pages here, here, here, and here.
A manual content review of the video confirmed that the footage is an authentic “proof-of-life” recording filmed by armed captors following the abduction of Inspector Kabiru Bello and two other travellers.
Speaking in Hausa, the victims introduced themselves as Kabiru Bello Adamu, a serving officer at the Police Academy, Wudil; Muntari; and Musa Rabiu (also known as Danladi), all from the Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
“The abduction occurred while they were en route to Kebbi State to see relatives and colleagues”, the victims stated in the video.
According to an update published by Kano Times on Jan. 8, 2026, a source within the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that Inspector Kabiru Bello has regained his freedom.
DUBAWA contacted Kano police public relation officer, Abdullahi Haruna, who also confirmed that the video is not recent, but did not disclose the circumstances of their release.
“All I can tell you is that this video is not recent”, Abdullahi said.
Conclusion
The claim that a Police Academy official was recently kidnapped on his way to Kebbi State is misleading. The video footage in circulation dates back to January 2026, and police reports have confirmed that the victim, Inspector Kabiru Bello, has since been released.