The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral video claiming that about 300 Lakurawa terrorists had entered the state, describing the report as a deliberate attempt to spread fear and panic among residents.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said extensive forensic investigations and intelligence assessments conducted by the Command found no evidence to support the allegation.
According to the police, the video was subjected to detailed forensic analysis, which revealed that its audio component contained information previously investigated and debunked by security authorities.
“The Oyo State Police Command, following a comprehensive forensic analysis and intelligence-based verification, has confirmed that the viral video alleging the movement of about 300 Lakurawa terrorists into Oyo State is false, misleading, and deliberately crafted to cause fear, panic, and heightened tension among members of the public,” the statement said.
The Command explained that the voice recording attached to the video, allegedly linked to an individual identified as Alhaji Muftau from Kontagora, corresponded with earlier false claims that had already been investigated and found to be untrue.
Police further disclosed that intelligence reports gathered from officers stationed in border communities, alongside information obtained through the Command’s early warning and response systems, showed no indication of any terrorist infiltration into the state.
“Building on this discovery, further intelligence gathered from operatives deployed across border communities, supported by the Command’s strengthened early warning and response mechanisms, found no evidence to support the claim contained in the video,” the statement added.
The Command also noted that independent verification carried out in collaboration with neighbouring police formations reached the same conclusion, confirming that the information circulating online was baseless.
“In addition to these findings, a joint verification process maintained in collaboration with neighbouring Police Commands independently confirmed that the information is entirely unfounded,” Olayinka stated.
Further investigations, according to the police, established that the video was neither recently recorded nor filmed in Nigeria, reinforcing concerns that it was intentionally circulated to mislead members of the public.
“Investigations also established that the video currently in circulation was neither recorded in Nigeria nor is it a recent occurrence, further reinforcing the conclusion that the content was designed to mislead the public,” the statement said.
The clarification comes amid heightened security concerns in parts of the country following recent attacks by armed groups. Reports of insecurity have continued to fuel public anxiety over the possible spread of terrorist activities into states in the South-West.
Against this backdrop, the Command cautioned residents against sharing unverified information capable of causing unnecessary alarm or disrupting public order.
It warned that individuals or groups found deliberately spreading false information would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“In light of these developments, the Command warns individuals and groups against the deliberate spread of misinformation capable of undermining public peace and security. Anyone found disseminating false information intended to incite panic or disrupt public order will be investigated and made to face the full weight of the law,” the police warned.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Oyo State under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga.
Residents were advised to remain calm, law-abiding, and rely solely on verified information from official security agencies and government communication channels.
