OYO POLICE ARREST TWO OVER FAKE BANDIT ATTACK CLAIM IN LAMINI COMMUNITY
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two individuals for allegedly spreading false information claiming that bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area and killed six residents.
The Command said the claim, which circulated through a viral WhatsApp voice note and other social media platforms, caused widespread panic among residents before investigations revealed it was entirely false.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the Command immediately deployed patrol and tactical teams to Lamini Community and surrounding areas to verify the report, reassure residents and calm tensions generated by the alarming message.
According to him, security operatives confirmed that no such attack occurred and that the report of a bandit invasion and multiple deaths was unfounded.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, ordered a comprehensive investigation to trace the source of the misleading information.
The police said intelligence-led investigations, supported by forensic analysis, traced the viral voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to circulating the message without first verifying its authenticity.
Further investigations also linked the origin of the false alarm to one Mulikat Bashiru, who allegedly initiated the claim within the community before it spread widely across social media platforms.
The Command warned that the deliberate dissemination of false information poses a serious threat to public safety and security, noting that such actions can create panic, disrupt economic activities, undermine public confidence and divert security resources from genuine emergencies.
Police authorities further stated that misinformation and disinformation weaken public trust and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit fear and confusion among citizens.
The Command urged residents to verify information through credible and official sources before sharing it and warned that anyone found spreading false information capable of causing public disorder would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
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