In a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the command said investigations carried out on the video established that the allegations lacked any factual basis.
“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 read.
According to the command, forensic examination of the footage revealed that the audio attached to the video, which was purportedly linked to one Alhaji Muftau from Kontagora, was identical to previous false claims that had already been investigated and dismissed.
The police further stated that intelligence reports gathered from officers operating in border communities, alongside the command’s enhanced surveillance and response systems, found nothing to support the allegations contained in the video.
“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,” it stated.
The command added that consultations and verification exercises conducted with neighbouring police formations also produced the same conclusion.
“In addition to these findings, a joint verification process maintained in collaboration with neighbouring Police Commands independently confirmed that the information is entirely unfounded,” the statement added.
Police investigations also showed that the video was not recorded in Nigeria and did not depict a recent event.
“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,” it said.
The clarification comes amid heightened security concerns following reports of attacks on schools and abductions in parts of the country, which have fuelled fears about the possible spread of terrorist activities into southwestern states.
Warning against the circulation of unverified information, the command said anyone found deliberately spreading falsehoods capable of causing panic or disrupting public order would face legal consequences.
“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,” it warned.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Oyo State under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, and urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and rely solely on official channels for security-related information.