Oyo police debunk viral claims of pastor’s arrest as alleged gunrunner

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Oyo State Police Command has denied reports that a pastor was arrested for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to suspects involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The command described the claim as false, misleading and completely unfounded. The denial followed reports by Arise Television claiming that a pastor had been arrested in connection with the abduction.

The police insisted that no such arrest had been made by the command or any other security agency participating in the ongoing rescue operation. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the command’s attention had been drawn to the reports circulating on some media platforms, online publications and social media alleging that a pastor served as a gunrunner for the abductors.

According to the police, the report failed to identify the pastor by name or provide any verifiable information linking any cleric to the crime. The command maintained that investigations into the abduction were still ongoing and no pastor had been arrested in connection with the case.

“The command wishes to categorically state that this claim is entirely false, misleading, and unfounded,” the statement read, adding that no arrest matching the report had been carried out by the police or any other known security agency involved in the operation.

The police further stated that the publication appeared to be a deliberate attempt to distract security operatives from the ongoing efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers, while also undermining public confidence in the professionalism of security agencies.

The command urged members of the public to ignore the report and rely only on information released through its verified communication channels. It also warned individuals and media platforms against spreading unverified information capable of jeopardising security operations or causing unnecessary panic.

The Oyo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of the abducted victims and maintaining public safety across the state. It added that anyone found deliberately spreading false information capable of undermining public confidence or security operations would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.