Two persons have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command over the spread of a viral voice note alleging a deadly bandit attack in Lamini Community, a claim police investigations later found to be entirely false.
The Command said the voice note, which circulated widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, claimed that bandits had invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area and killed six persons, triggering panic among residents and raising concerns about security in the area.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command said it swiftly deployed patrol and tactical teams to the community to verify the report and reassure residents.
“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,” the statement said.
According to the police, on-the-ground assessments and security checks revealed that no such attack had taken place.
“It was established that the purported bandit invasion and killing of six persons never occurred,” the Command stated, describing the report as false and unfounded.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the source of the misinformation.
The police said intelligence gathering and forensic analysis traced the viral voice note to one Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested.
“The ensuing intelligence-driven investigation, supported by forensic analysis, traced the incriminating voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa,” the statement noted.
Investigators disclosed that the suspect admitted sharing the message without first confirming its authenticity.
“He confessed to circulating the voice note without verifying the authenticity of the information,” the police added.
Further investigation linked the origin of the false alarm to one Mulikat Bashiru, who allegedly raised the initial claim within the community before it spread across social media platforms.
The Command warned that the deliberate dissemination of false information poses a serious threat to public safety and national security, noting that such actions can create panic, disrupt economic activities and divert security personnel from genuine emergencies.
“False information can trigger panic, undermine public confidence, disrupt socio-economic activities, and divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies,” the statement said.
The police further cautioned that misinformation could weaken public trust in security agencies and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit confusion and fear.
While urging residents to remain vigilant, the Command advised members of the public to verify security-related information through credible and official channels before sharing it.
It also warned that anyone found culpable of spreading false information capable of causing public disorder would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Olayinka reiterated the Command’s commitment to maintaining public order and ensuring that individuals whose actions threaten peace and security are held accountable.
