Police debunk viral claim of Lakurawa terrorists movement into Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a viral video claiming that about 300 suspected Lakurawa terrorists had moved into the state, describing the content as a deliberate attempt to create fear and panic among residents.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Command said a comprehensive forensic analysis and intelligence-based investigation found no evidence to support the claim contained in the video.

According to the police, findings from the forensic review revealed that the voice recording accompanying the video, allegedly attributed to one Alhaji Muftau from Kontagora, was linked to earlier false information that had already been investigated and debunked by security authorities.

The Command stated that intelligence gathered from operatives deployed across border communities, coupled with its strengthened early warning and response mechanisms, showed no indication of any movement of terrorists into Oyo State.

It added that a joint verification exercise conducted with neighbouring police commands independently confirmed that the information being circulated was entirely unfounded.

Further investigations, according to the police, established that the video was neither recorded in Nigeria nor a recent occurrence, reinforcing suspicions that it was deliberately repackaged to mislead members of the public.

The Command warned individuals and groups against spreading unverified information capable of undermining public peace and security, stressing that anyone found disseminating false information aimed at inciting panic or disrupting public order would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property, the Oyo State Police Command said it would continue to deploy all lawful measures to sustain the security gains recorded across the state.

The Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, assured residents that it remained vigilant and prepared to deal decisively with any person or group seeking to threaten the peace and security of the state.

Residents were urged to remain calm, law-abiding and rely only on verified information from official channels when seeking updates on security matters.