Oyo Police Command Arrests Pastor, Woman Over ‘False Alarm’ Of Bandits Att∆ck As Pupils Remain In C∆ptivity

 

Oyo Police Command Arrests Pastor, Woman Over ‘False Alarm’ Of Bandits Attack As Pupils Remain In Captivity

The report, which police was false, had triggered panic and heightened security concerns among residents.

The Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of a man identified as a pastor and a woman for allegedly spreading false information claiming that bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area of the state and killed six residents.

The report, which police was false, had triggered panic and heightened security concerns among residents.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the police identified the suspects as Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa and one Mulikat Bashiru, accusing them of originating and circulating an unverified voice note that falsely alleged a deadly bandit attack on the community.

The arrests come at a time when anxiety over insecurity remains high in Oyo State following the recent abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, a development that has intensified public sensitivity to reports of attacks and kidnappings.

The command said it became aware of a widely circulated voice note shared across WhatsApp platforms and other social media channels alleging that armed bandits had stormed Lamini Community and killed six people.

According to the police, the report caused widespread fear and apprehension among residents and members of the public.

The command said it immediately deployed patrol and tactical teams to Lamini and surrounding areas to verify the claims and reassure residents.

“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,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, subsequently directed the State Intelligence Department (SID) to investigate the origin of the report.

Police said intelligence-led investigations supported by forensic analysis traced the voice note to Pastor Muyiwa.

“During interrogation, the suspect admitted to authoring and circulating the voice note without verifying the authenticity of the information,” the statement noted.

Investigators later discovered that the false claim allegedly originated from Mulikat Bashiru, who reportedly raised the alarm within the community.

Police said she was subsequently identified, traced and arrested.

“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 command added.

The police warned that the deliberate spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation poses serious threats to public order, security and peaceful coexistence.

According to the command, false security alerts can create panic, undermine public confidence, disrupt economic activities and divert security personnel from responding to 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,” the statement said.

The command further cautioned residents against sharing unverified reports on social media, warning that individuals found responsible for originating or disseminating false information capable of causing public disorder would be prosecuted under existing laws.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns across Oyo State following the abduction of pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.

The kidnapping, which claimed the lives of a teacher, a motorcyclist and a security operative during rescue efforts, prompted President Bola Tinubu to deploy a high-powered federal delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to the affected communities.

The President also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and ordered intensified rescue operations to secure the release of the abducted victims.

Against that backdrop, security experts have warned that false reports of attacks could further inflame public fears and complicate ongoing efforts by security agencies to address genuine threats in the state.

The Oyo Police Command urged members of the public to rely on official channels and credible sources for security information and to report suspicious activities through designated emergency lines rather than spreading unverified claims.