The Lagos State Police Command has debunked viral social media reports alleging that Ibeju-Lekki, Imota, Oke-Afo, and other parts of the state are under invasion by armed bandits targeting schools and children.
According to a statement on Monday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the circulating posts were deliberately designed to create unnecessary fear, panic and apprehension among residents.
“There is currently no security crisis, invasion, or coordinated attack on any school or community in Ibeju-Lekki, Imota, Oke-Afo, or any other part of Lagos State.
“The Command wishes to reassure members of the public that schools across the state remain safe, while the Police and other security agencies continue to maintain adequate security presence and surveillance in all communities,” the statement partly read
While declaring the security alerts false and unfounded, the police revealed that the panic generated by the misinformation led to the killing of a 24-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Kulaha Ayuba, who was falsely profiled as a “Fulani bandit.”
The statement continued, “Regrettably, the spread of this false alarm has already resulted in a tragic and avoidable loss of life, of one Kulaha Ayuba ‘m’, aged 24 years, a commercial motorcycle rider.
“Some youths of the community, acting on the false and unverified belief that armed bandits had invaded the area, allegedly labelled him a Fulani bandit, attacked and fatally assaulted him.
“His motorcycle was reportedly stolen, while his body was subsequently discovered in a swamp within the community.”
Adebisi noted that 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently under investigation.
“The Command assures the public that all those found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law.
“Furthermore, individuals found responsible for originating, publishing, or deliberately circulating false and inciting information capable of causing public alarm, disorder, ethnic tension, or violence will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with applicable laws,” the statement noted.
The PPRO added that the Command’s Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, has urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding as they go about their daily routines, urging them to report any suspicious activity through the nearest police station or established emergency channels rather than relying on unverified social media content.
GISTSMATE MEDIA reports that the Chairman of the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Abdullahi Olowa, similarly issued a public security advisory urging residents to remain calm and desist from ethnic profiling or self-help over the influx of “certain groups of persons” into various communities.
The Imota Local Council Development Area has also reassured residents that the community remains peaceful and secure following the circulation of a viral video and a radio broadcast alleging that two schoolgirls were killed during a bandit attack on a primary school in Imota.
