Police arrest suspects over false bandit attack alarm in Oyo

The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged deliberate dissemination of false information about bandits killing six persons in Lamini Community, Ido Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on Monday in Ibadan, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said that the suspects, a pastor and a woman, were arrested after thorough investigation of the purported attack on the community.

Ayanlade recalled that the Command’s attention was drawn to widely circulated voice notes on WhatsApp platforms and other social media channels claiming that armed bandits had attacked Lamini Community and killed six residents.

He said that the publication had generated fear, panic, and apprehension among residents and other members of the public, while creating unnecessary tension within and around the affected area.

“Upon receipt of the information, the command immediately mobilised patrol and tactical teams to Lamini Community and its environs to verify the claim, reassure residents, and douse the palpable tension generated by the alarming report.

“Following a thorough assessment and on-the-ground verification, it was conclusively established that the purported bandit invasion and killing of six persons never occurred.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the origin and dissemination of the false information.

“The ensuing intelligence-driven investigation, supported by forensic analysis, traced the incriminating voice note to Pastor Amos Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested.

“During interrogation, the suspect admitted to authoring and circulating the voice note without verifying the authenticity of the information.

“Further investigations revealed that the false alarm originated from one Mulikat Bashiru, who had raised the unfounded claim within the community.

“She was thereafter identified, traced, and arrested in connection with the matter.

“Both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify any other persons involved in the creation or propagation of the false narrative,” Ayanlade said.

He said that the deliberate spread of false information, fake news, misinformation, and disinformation remained a serious threat to public order, national security, and peaceful coexistence.

The command’s spokesman warned that such actions were capable of triggering panic, undermining public confidence, disrupting socio-economic activities, and diverting critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.

“Misinformation and disinformation do not merely mislead the public; they constitute a direct attack on our collective resolve to build a secure and peaceful society.

“We are at a time when security agencies, community leaders, and law-abiding citizens are working collaboratively to sustain the prevailing security gains across Oyo State.

“Any deliberate circulation of false narratives serves only to create unnecessary fear, weaken public trust, and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit public anxiety and confusion,”  Ayanlade stated.

He therefore urged residents to exercise restraint, responsibility, and vigilance in the use of social media and other communication platforms.

The police spokesman warned that any individual found deliberately originating or disseminating false information capable of causing public disorder would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.

“Members of the public are advised to verify information through credible and official sources before sharing same,” Ayanlade said.

(NAN) 

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