Man arrested over false bandit attack claim in Ekiti, police assure safety

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Sunday Olawale, for allegedly spreading false information on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Are-Ekiti community.

The command said the suspect was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad on June 14 at the Ekute area of Ado-Ekiti following an investigation into a viral video circulating online.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, preliminary findings revealed that the report of a bandit attack in Are-Ekiti was completely fabricated.

He explained that the suspect was tracked and apprehended for allegedly sharing misleading content capable of causing fear, panic, and disruption of public peace in the state.

Abutu further stated that during interrogation, Olawale admitted to circulating the video on social media but failed to give any credible justification for his actions.

The police spokesperson also confirmed that there was no bandit invasion in Are-Ekiti or any other part of the state, assuring residents that the security situation remained calm and under control.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, cautioned residents against spreading unverified information, warning that such actions could incite unnecessary panic and insecurity.

Falade reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling misinformation and urged members of the public to always verify information before sharing it, especially on social media platforms.