The Oyo State Police Command has refuted a viral video alleging that about 300 suspected Lakurawa terrorists had entered the state, describing the claim as false and intended to create panic among residents.
The command, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said investigations revealed that the content of the video was misleading and lacked any factual basis.
According to the police, a detailed forensic examination and intelligence-based verification conducted by security operatives found no evidence to support the allegation circulating on social media.
Olayinka stated that the voice recording attached to the video, allegedly credited to one Alhaji Muftau from Kontagora, was linked to previously circulated false security alerts that had already been investigated and dismissed.
“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 and tension among members of the public,” he said.
He added that intelligence gathered from officers stationed in border communities, alongside the command’s early warning mechanisms, showed no indication of any terrorist movement into the state.
“In addition, a joint verification exercise conducted with neighbouring police commands independently confirmed that the information contained in the video is entirely unfounded,” the police spokesman stated.
The command further disclosed that investigations established that the footage was neither recently recorded nor shot in Nigeria, warning individuals against spreading false security information capable of disrupting public peace and assuring residents of its commitment to maintaining safety across the state.