Students and staff of Lagos State University have expressed outrage over a viral prank video showing a group of young men dressed in outfits resembling extremist fighters entering the campus and causing panic.
The video, posted on December 5 by Datreez Entertainment TV and titled “Bandits Prank on Lasuites,” featured individuals wearing turbans and desert-style clothing commonly linked to terrorist groups. Behind-the-scenes clips showed the group dressing up before driving into a crowd of students while recording their reactions.
Many students were seen fleeing in fear, especially at a time when attacks on schools in Niger and Kebbi States have heightened public concern about safety.
Although the video has been taken down from the original creator’s page, it remains available through another account linked to the team. In its place, Datreez Entertainment released an apology, explaining that the entire video was staged.
According to the group, all participants were aware of the setup and volunteered to be part of the production. They insisted that no unsuspecting member of the public was put at risk. They, however, admitted that the idea was insensitive given the country’s security challenges and apologised to the LASU management.
The prank has sparked backlash among student content creators, who say it has led to tighter restrictions on filming within the campus. One popular student creator, Anuoluwapo, criticised the video, explaining that security personnel have since been confiscating students’ phones and recording equipment. Others, including Tush Agbero and Temmytayo GP, also lamented increased monitoring of student activities.
PUNCH Online could not independently verify if any new regulations had officially been introduced.
In an official statement, the university dissociated itself from the incident, calling the video unauthorised and unacceptable. LASU criticised any content that portrays terrorism or actions that cause fear, disrupt peace, or threaten the safety of students and staff. The institution urged students to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to campus security.
LASU has recently become a popular location for student-created online content, but the prank has reignited conversations about balancing creativity with safety. This comes months after the University of Lagos banned the unauthorised use of its facilities for skits and videos in an effort to prevent misrepresentation and maintain order on campus.
