The Ekiti State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a report circulating on social media claiming that passengers travelling from Ado-Ekiti to Ibadan were abducted at Aramoko-Ekiti on Sunday.
In a statement released on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, said the command immediately deployed intelligence and tactical teams to the area after receiving the report.
According to Abutu, investigations showed that the claim was completely unfounded and intentionally fabricated by individuals attempting to incite fear among residents and discredit the efforts of security agencies and the state government.
He noted that the command had observed a recurring pattern of coordinated misinformation involving alleged bandit attacks, kidnappings, and other security-related incidents across the state.
The police spokesman stated that several instances of fake news and false security alerts had been recorded in recent weeks, describing the trend as dangerous and capable of creating unnecessary anxiety among the public.
Abutu appealed to residents who have credible information about those responsible for creating and spreading false reports to notify the police through the command’s emergency lines or official social media channels.
He further warned that producing and disseminating false information is a criminal offence and that anyone found responsible would face prosecution in line with the law.
“The command, therefore, calls on members of the public to disregard the report, remain security conscious, verify information before sharing it, and continue with their lawful activities without fear,” the spokesman said.
He also encouraged residents to promptly report any security issue or emergency through the command’s emergency number, 08062335577.
