CITIZENS COMPASS— Oyo State Police Command on Monday, confirmed the arrest of a pastor, Amos Joel Muyiwa and his accomplice, Mulikat Bashiru, for allegedly spreading fake information.
Spokesperson for the Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed this in a statement.
According to the Command, the fake information alleged that
bandits invaded and killed six people in Lamini Community, Ido Local Government Area of the State.
The spokesperson said the suspects were arrested after the attention of the Police was drawn to a voice note on various social media channels claiming that armed bandits had attacked Lamini Community and killed six residents.
He said, “The publication generated fear, panic, and apprehension among residents and other members of the public, while creating unnecessary tension within and around the affected area.”
According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the origin and dissemination of the false information.
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that it has arrested two suspects in connection with the deliberate dissemination of false information alleging that bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State and killed six persons.
The Command’s attention was drawn to a widely circulated voice note on various WhatsApp platforms and other social media channels claiming that armed bandits had attacked Lamini Community and killed six residents. The publication generated fear, panic, and apprehension among residents and other members of the public, while creating unnecessary tension within and around the affected area.
Upon receipt of the information, the Command immediately mobilized 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. Following a thorough assessment and on-the-ground verification, it was conclusively established that the purported bandit invasion and killing of six persons never occurred. Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, psc, mnips, directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the origin and dissemination of the false information. The ensuing intelligence-driven investigation, supported by forensic analysis, traced the incriminating voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to authoring and circulating the voice note without verifying the authenticity of the information. Further investigations revealed that the false alarm originated from one Mulikat Bashiru, who had raised the unfounded claim within the community. She was thereafter identified, traced, and arrested in connection with the matter. Both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify any other persons involved in the creation or propagation of the false narrative.
The Oyo State Police Command views the deliberate spread of false information, fake news, misinformation, and disinformation as a serious threat to public order, national security, and peaceful coexistence. Such actions are capable of triggering panic, undermining public confidence, disrupting socio-economic activities, and diverting critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.
Misinformation and disinformation do not merely mislead the public; they constitute a direct attack on our collective resolve to build a secure and peaceful society. At a time when security agencies, community leaders, and law-abiding citizens are working collaboratively to sustain the prevailing security gains across Oyo State, the deliberate circulation of false narratives serves only to create unnecessary fear, weaken public trust, and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit public anxiety and confusion.
The Command therefore urges residents to exercise restraint, responsibility, and vigilance in the use of social media and other communication platforms. Members of the public are advised to verify information through credible and official sources before sharing same, as individuals found deliberately originating or disseminating false information capable of causing public disorder will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.
