The Oyo State Police has arrested two people for spreading false news. They claimed that bandits attacked Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area and killed six people.
The police said this claim went viral on WhatsApp and other social media. It caused panic among the people in the area before it was proven to be false.
In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the police quickly sent patrol and tactical teams to Lamini Community. They went to check the situation, calm the residents, and reduce the fear caused by the alarming news.
Olayinka mentioned that after checking, they found out that the alleged bandit attack and killing of six people never happened. He called the report unfounded.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered a full investigation into where the voice note came from. This led to the arrest of two suspects.
According to the police, the investigation, which included forensic analysis, traced the voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa. He was arrested soon after.
The police statement said the suspect confessed that he sent the message without checking if it was true.
Investigators also found that the claim started with a woman named Mulikat Bashiru. She was the first to raise the alarm in the community before it spread widely.
The police warned that spreading false information is a serious problem. They said such actions can cause panic, lower public trust, disturb daily life, and take important resources away from real emergencies.
They added that false information is a threat to security efforts. It creates unnecessary fear and gives chances for criminals to take advantage of the situation.
The police urged everyone to check information from reliable sources before sharing. They warned that anyone found guilty of spreading false information that causes public disorder will face legal action.
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