By The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including a pastor, for allegedly spreading false information claiming that bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State and killed six people.
The Command confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, June 1, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
According to the police, the suspects, identified as Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa and Mulikat Bashiru, allegedly circulated a false banditry alarm through a voice note shared on various WhatsApp platforms and other social media channels.
DSP Ayanlade stated that the false report caused “fear, panic, and apprehension among residents and members of the public.”
However, preliminary investigations conducted by patrol and tactical teams deployed to the community revealed that the alleged incident never occurred.
Responding to the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to investigate the source of the misinformation, which led to the arrest of Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa.
“Upon receipt of the information, the Command immediately mobilized patrol and tactical teams to Lamini Community and its environs to verify the claim, reassure residents, and douse the palpable tension generated by the alarming report.
“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.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the origin and dissemination of the false information.
“The ensuing intelligence-driven investigation, supported by forensic analysis, traced the incriminating voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was subsequently arrested,” the statement read.
The police further disclosed that the pastor admitted to circulating the unverified information. Investigators later traced the origin of the false alarm to Mulikat Bashiru, who was subsequently 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,” DSP Ayanlade added.
The Command condemned the deliberate spread of false information, noting that such actions could trigger panic, undermine public confidence, disrupt socio-economic activities, and overstretch security resources.
“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.
“At a time when security agencies, community leaders, and law-abiding citizens are working collaboratively to sustain the prevailing security gains across Oyo State, the deliberate circulation of false narratives serves only to create unnecessary fear, weaken public trust, and create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit public anxiety and confusion,” the statement added.
The Command urged residents to refrain from spreading unverified information and to use social media responsibly, warning that anyone found causing public disorder through false information would be “prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.”
