The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral video circulating on social media that claims to show armed bandits operating within forests in Ogun State, describing the footage as misleading and deliberately recycled to incite panic.
In a statement, the Command said investigations and fact-checking revealed that the video did not originate from Ogun State or anywhere in Nigeria. According to the police, the footage—depicting individuals cooking in a bush setting—was recorded in Kenya during an operation involving cattle rustlers and captured by a General Service Unit drone.
Authorities further disclosed that the video was first uploaded online in 2022 and has since been recirculated with a false narrative to misinform the public about the security situation in the state. The Command warned that such manipulation of old or foreign content poses a threat to public trust and safety.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, condemned the spread of unverified information, stressing its potential to create unnecessary fear among residents. He stated that there is no intelligence or operational report indicating the presence of armed bandits in any forest or part of Ogun State.
The police chief reassured residents that security agencies remain vigilant and proactive, employing intelligence-led policing, strategic deployments, and continuous surveillance to safeguard lives and property across the state.
He urged members of the public to disregard the viral video and refrain from sharing unverified content capable of disrupting public peace. Residents were also advised to rely on official communication channels for accurate and credible security updates.
Ojajuni further called on citizens to remain law-abiding and support security agencies with timely and reliable information, warning that the dissemination of false or inciting content would not be tolerated.
