"We cannot discard them just because they've done their duty in looking after the security of this nation and making sure we sleep peacefully at night," Fijivillage reported him saying.
Bainimarama said some had speculated the video involved prisoners who escaped from Naboro Prison last year.
"If you can remember that story, they broke into the bank and terrorized the people of Fiji for two whole weeks. In that two weeks I remember I was very worried about the security of the people of Fiji.
"These people should not forget what these guys did when they broke out of prison in those two weeks."
Bainimarama said he was not concerned about the reaction from aid organisations, which have called for a full independent investigation into the footage.
"NGOs are paid by the international community to jump up and down every time we do something," Bainimarama said.
"I really don't think we should worry too much about what the NGOs say in instances such as this."
