By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man, Johnson Elleh, for allegedly producing and circulating a false video claiming that kidnappers and bandits were operating along the Owode-Idiroko axis of the state.
The Command said investigations revealed that the viral video was fabricated and intended to create fear and panic among residents, stressing that no such security incident occurred in the area.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said detectives launched an investigation after the video surfaced online and generated public concern.
According to him, extensive verification showed that there was no kidnapping or banditry incident in the Owode-Idiroko corridor or its environs as portrayed in the footage.
Babaseyi said the suspect, who appeared in the video, was identified and arrested by police operatives.
Preliminary investigations, he added, revealed that Elleh deliberately created and circulated the false narrative to attract attention and boost online engagement.
“The suspect reportedly confessed to intentionally creating and disseminating the misleading content to generate online engagement and public reaction,” the police spokesman stated.
He noted that the act was capable of causing unnecessary public alarm, disrupting social order and undermining confidence in the state’s security architecture.
The Command warned individuals and groups against creating, publishing or sharing unverified security-related information, describing the spread of fake security alerts as a threat to public peace and safety.
“The Command will continue to identify, arrest, investigate and prosecute all persons found culpable, irrespective of status or motive,” Babaseyi said.
The police, however, reassured residents that Ogun State remains safe, peaceful and secure, urging the public to disregard the false video and rely only on information released through official channels.
The Command also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining law and order across the state.
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