LAGOS POLICE DENY VIRAL BANDITRY CLAIMS, CONFIRM ONE DEATH, ARREST 15 SUSPECTS OVER MOB ATTACK
Read Time:1 Minute, 39 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed viral social media reports alleging that Ibeju-Lekki, Imota, Oke-Afo and other parts of the state were under invasion by armed bandits, describing the claims as false, misleading and capable of inciting panic.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Command said the circulating posts and accompanying images suggesting coordinated attacks on schools and communities were entirely unfounded.
It stressed that there is no ongoing security threat, invasion or attack in any part of Lagos State, including the affected areas, adding that schools and communities remain safe under sustained police surveillance and security presence.
However, the Command confirmed that the spread of the false alarm led to a tragic incident in which one person was killed after being wrongly identified during mob action triggered by the rumours.
According to the Police, the victim, identified as Kulaha Ayuba, a 24-year-old commercial motorcyclist, was attacked by youths who allegedly mistook him for a bandit following the viral alert. His motorcycle was reportedly stolen, and his body was later found in a swamp within the community.
The Command described the incident as avoidable and unfortunate, noting that 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing and are currently under investigation.
It warned against the spread of unverified information capable of inciting ethnic profiling, mob violence and public disorder, stressing that such actions undermine public safety and security efforts.
The Police further urged residents to rely only on verified information from official channels and to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or emergency lines rather than acting on social media rumours.
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reassured residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, noting that adequate security measures have been deployed across the state.
The Command added that it remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to prosecute individuals responsible for spreading false and inciting information.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0