The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a man allegedly responsible for spreading false information on social media about a supposed security breach in Abuja and parts of Nasarawa State, a development that triggered widespread panic and temporary school closures in affected communities.
Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the arrest in a post on his verified Facebook page, stating that the suspect circulated alarming content that falsely suggested an ongoing security threat in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring areas.
According to him, the arrest was part of efforts to curb the spread of misinformation capable of causing public fear and disruption. He added that the action serves as a warning to social media users who intentionally circulate unverified or misleading security reports.
The panic was most pronounced in parts of Nyanya in Abuja and Mararaba in Nasarawa State, where parents rushed to pick up their children from school following rumours of a possible attack. Several schools in the Aso A and Aso B areas reportedly suspended academic activities as a precaution.
Institutions such as Henjodan Primary and Secondary School and Merit Gate Scholar Academy were among those affected, with school authorities directing students home after panic spread through communities.
However, no official confirmation of any attack or kidnapping was recorded at the time.
Security agencies later clarified that there was no verified incident of school abduction in the area, noting that investigations were still ongoing to trace the origin of the false reports that fueled the disruption.
The arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on digital misinformation, following a similar case involving another suspect accused of generating and circulating misleading audio content about national security issues.
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