Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two individuals, a pastor identified as Amos Joel Muyiwa and a woman named Mulikat Bashiru, for allegedly originating and spreading false information that armed bandits invaded Lamini Community in Ido Local Government Area and killed six residents. The arrests, announced on Monday, June 1, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, came after a viral voice note circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms claimed a deadly bandit attack had occurred in the community. The report triggered widespread fear, panic and apprehension among residents, creating unnecessary tension within and around the area.
According to the police, upon receiving the report, the Command immediately deployed 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 message. Following a thorough assessment and on‑the‑ground verification, the police conclusively established that no bandit invasion or killing had taken place. The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, subsequently directed the State Intelligence Department (SID) to launch a comprehensive investigation into the source of the false information. The ensuing intelligence‑led investigation, supported by forensic analysis, traced the incriminating voice note to Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who was arrested. During interrogation, he admitted to authoring and circulating the voice note without verifying the authenticity of the information. Further investigations revealed that the false alarm originated from Mulikat Bashiru, who had raised the unfounded claim within the community. She was identified, traced and arrested.
The police disclosed that both suspects are cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify any other persons involved in creating or propagating the false narrative. The Command described the deliberate spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation as a serious threat to public order, national security and peaceful coexistence, warning that such actions could incite panic, undermine public confidence, disrupt socio‑economic activities and divert security resources from genuine emergencies. “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,” the statement noted.
The arrests come at a time of heightened anxiety across Oyo State, following the abduction of 46 pupils, students and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, a real crisis that has now entered its 19th day. Victims remain in captivity, including a two‑year‑old toddler, Christianah Akanbi, and the principal of Community High School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, who has appeared in a desperate video from captivity begging the government to negotiate for their release. The fake alarm in Lamini Community thus stands in stark contrast to the genuine, unresolved tragedy unfolding only a few kilometres away.
The Oyo State Police Command urged residents to exercise caution and responsibility in their use of social media and other communication platforms by verifying information through credible and official sources before sharing it. It also warned that individuals found deliberately originating or disseminating false information capable of causing public disorder would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law. “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 police said.
As of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the 46 victims of the Oriire abduction remain in captivity. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an indefinite strike across all public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, demanding the unconditional release of the captives. Civil society groups and teachers have held multiple protests in Ibadan, and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has mobilised for nationwide solidarity rallies. While the police have successfully tackled one source of misinformation, the real security crisis that triggered the initial panic remains unresolved.
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