The Oyo State Police Command has apprehended two individuals in connection with the alleged intentional spread of false information claiming that “bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area and killed six persons.”
According to the Command, the allegation, which circulated through a viral WhatsApp voice note and other social media platforms, caused widespread panic among residents before investigations confirmed it was untrue.
In a statement issued 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.”
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He explained that after officers conducted checks in the area, it was discovered that “the purported bandit invasion and killing of six persons never occurred,” describing the report as baseless.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, thereafter ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the origin of the voice note, which resulted in the arrest of two suspects.
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The Police stated that “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 added that during questioning, the suspect admitted that he shared the message “without verifying the authenticity of the information.”
Further investigations revealed that the report was initially linked to one Mulikat Bashiru, who allegedly raised the alarm within the community before the claim gained wider circulation.
The Command cautioned against the deliberate dissemination of misinformation and disinformation, stressing that such actions pose a serious risk to public safety and order. It noted that false reports can “trigger panic, undermine public confidence, disrupt socio-economic activities, and divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.”
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The Police also described the spread of unverified information as harmful to security operations, stating that such narratives “create unnecessary fear, weaken public trust, and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit public anxiety and confusion.”
Residents were urged to verify information through credible sources before sharing it. The Command warned that anyone found responsible for spreading false information capable of causing public unrest would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
