The Kwara State Police Command has stated that the viral hardship video purported to have taken place in the palace of the Emir of Ilọrin was manipulated.

The police statement was coming on the heels of a similar reaction by the emir for the public to disregard the video as it "was part of the events witnessed during the build-up to the 2019 general elections in the state" and appealed for calm.

The spokeswoman of the command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi (DSP), explained that the video had been studied and found to be false.

She said, "No such gathering took place in any part of Ilorin in recent times, including the emir's palace. The video in circulation is a doctored version of the true representation of a socio-cultural event in the forecourt of the emir's palace some years ago. It has been manipulated with another audio that clearly does not match the countenance of the people seen in it.

"This is the handiwork of mischief makers and some subversive elements with criminal intent to disrupt the peace and harmony we enjoy in the state."

Our correspondent reports that in the 26-second video, a crowd is seen at the front of the emir's palace shouting "Ebi npalu" (there's hunger in the community).