The Nigeria Police force ,Ekiti State command has expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of false security alarms being circulated on social media, warning that such misinformation could undermine public confidence and ongoing security reforms
The Command’s reaction followed a viral report alleging that a commercial bus loaded with passengers was abducted along the Aramoko-Ekiti road on Sunday evening.
Police authorities, however, said investigations revealed that the incident never occurred as being circulated
The command Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu who disclosed this in a statement on Monday said intelligence and tactical teams were immediately deployed to verify the claim after it surfaced online.
According to him, findings from the operation confirmed that no kidnapping or related security breach took place on the road or anywhere within the state as claimed in the report.
The police spokesperson alleged that the false alarm was deliberately created by individuals seeking to create fear among residents and cast doubt on the security measures being implemented by both the police and the state government.
Mr. Abutu explain that the Command had recently observed a pattern of similar fake reports involving alleged bandit attacks and kidnappings in different parts of Ekiti State.
He described the development as dangerous and unacceptable, stressing that the dissemination of false information capable of causing public panic constitutes a criminal offence under Nigerian law.
The Command therefore urged residents of the state to verify information before sharing it on social media and remain alert to security issues.