The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly spreading false information claiming that bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State and killed six persons.
The arrests followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, who instructed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to investigate the origin and circulation of the report.
The arrest followed 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.
In a statement issued on Monday, the command said patrol and tactical teams were immediately deployed to Lamini Community to verify the claim, reassure residents, and calm tensions in the area.
The command said a thorough on-the-ground assessment confirmed that no such attack or killing occurred.
It added that intelligence-led investigations, supported by forensic analysis, traced the voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to creating and circulating the message without verifying its authenticity. Further investigation also linked the false claim to one Mulikat Bashiru, who allegedly first raised the alarm within the community.
She was also identified, traced, and arrested, while both suspects are cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to determine the full circumstances and identify any other individuals involved.
The command described the deliberate spread of false information as a serious threat to public order and security, warning that misinformation and disinformation can trigger panic, undermine public trust, and divert security resources from genuine emergencies.
It further urged residents to verify information from credible sources before sharing, warning that anyone found responsible for spreading false information capable of causing public disorder would be prosecuted.