The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects over the alleged deliberate circulation of false information claiming that “bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area and killed six persons.”
The Command said the claim, which spread through a viral voice note on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, triggered panic among residents before it was confirmed to be false.
In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said 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.”
He added that following on-the-ground verification, it was established that “the purported bandit invasion and killing of six persons never occurred,” describing the report as unfounded.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, subsequently directed a full investigation into the source of the voice note, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
According to the Police, “the ensuing intelligence-driven investigation, supported by forensic analysis, traced the incriminating voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested.”
The statement further noted that the suspect admitted during interrogation that he circulated the message “without verifying the authenticity of the information.”
Investigators also linked the origin of the claim to one Mulikat Bashiru, who was said to have first raised the alarm within the community before it was widely circulated.
The Command warned that the deliberate spread of misinformation and disinformation poses a serious threat to public order, noting that such actions can “trigger panic, undermine public confidence, disrupt socio-economic activities, and divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.”
It further described false information as a threat to security efforts, stating that such narratives “create unnecessary fear, weaken public trust, and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit public anxiety and confusion.”
The Police urged residents to verify information from credible sources before sharing, warning that individuals found culpable of spreading false information capable of causing public disorder will be prosecuted under the law.
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