The Lagos State University community has expressed outrage over a viral prank video that showed young men dressed as extremist fighters storming the campus and causing panic among students.
The video, published on December 5 by Datreez Entertainment TV and titled “Bandits Prank on Lasuites,” featured individuals wearing turbans and desert-style outfits commonly associated with terrorist groups.
Behind-the-scenes footage also circulated online, capturing the men dressing up before jumping into a vehicle and speeding into a crowd of students while a cameraman recorded their reactions.
Students were seen fleeing in fear, especially as the incident occurred amid rising concerns over attacks on schools in Niger and Kebbi states.
Checks on Thursday revealed that the original upload had been removed from the group’s page, which has more than 3,400 followers and 164,000 likes. However, a copy remains on another creator’s account who claims involvement in the production.
In a formal apology released on Sunday, Datreez Entertainment International said the video was entirely staged.
“The content was strictly a social experiment created purely for entertainment purposes,” the statement read. “Every scene, action, and reaction was fully staged, involving participants who were aware of the concept and voluntarily part of the production.”
The group insisted no member of the public was put at risk but admitted the prank was insensitive given Nigeria’s current security challenges.
“We sincerely regret any anxiety or discomfort the video may have triggered. This was never our intention,” it said, offering an apology to the university’s management.
The prank has sparked criticism among student content creators who say it has led to tightened restrictions on campus.
A popular student creator, Anuoluwapo, condemned the act in a video posted on Tuesday.
“This thing does not make sense. For days now, security officers have been seizing students’ phones and tripods. You cannot even create content freely again on campus. See what this has caused,” he said.
Other LASU-based TikTok creators, including Tush Agbero and Temmytayo GP, also expressed frustration over what they described as increased monitoring of students.
PUNCH Online, however, could not independently confirm whether official enforcement measures have been introduced.
In a statement issued Sunday, the university dissociated itself from the recording, calling it unauthorised and unacceptable.
“The University did not give any form of approval, authorisation, or endorsement for the recording of the said video,” the statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Mrs Thomas-Onashile Oluwayemisi, said.
“LASU strongly condemns acts or content that portray or suggest banditry, terrorism, or violent extremism.
The University does not support pranks that can incite fear, disrupt campus peace, or threaten the safety of students and staff.”
The institution urged students to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to campus security.
LASU has become a hub for young content creators in recent years, but the incident has renewed conversations about balancing creativity with safety on campus.
In October, the University of Lagos, Akoka, banned the unauthorised use of its facilities for videos and skits, citing the need to protect the academic environment and prevent misrepresentation.