The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a pastor and a woman for allegedly spreading false reports of a bandit attack in Lamini Community, Ido Local Government Area.
Police said the suspects were taken into custody after investigations traced the source of viral messages claiming that six people were killed during an invasion of the community. The command said no such attack occurred.
In a statement on Monday, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Olayinka Ayanlade said officers and tactical units were immediately deployed to Lamini to verify the claims and calm residents after the reports spread widely on WhatsApp and other platforms.
Intelligence gathering and forensic analysis identified Pastor Amos Muyiwa as the person who recorded and shared the voice message.
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Ayanlade said the pastor admitted to circulating the information without confirming it. Further inquiries led police to Mulikat Bashiru, who was linked to the origin of the claim and later arrested.
Both suspects are assisting investigators as the command works to determine if others were involved in creating or spreading the report.
Ayanlade warned that misinformation and disinformation threaten public safety and confidence. He said false security alerts cause unnecessary panic, disrupt daily activities, and divert security personnel from real emergencies.
The command urged residents to verify sensitive information before sharing it and stressed the need for responsible use of social media on issues relating to public safety.
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