The Police Command in Lagos State has refuted circulating social media claims alleging that armed bandits invaded communities in Ibeju-Lekki, Imota, Oke-Afo and other parts of the state.
The command described the viral reports as false, misleading and deliberately designed to incite fear, panic and unnecessary tension among residents.
In a statement on Monday in Lagos, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, stressed that there was no security breach, invasion or coordinated attack on any school or community within the affected areas or anywhere across the state.
Adebisi further assured residents that schools in Lagos remained safe, noting that security operatives had sustained surveillance and visibility across communities.
However, she disclosed that the spread of the false alarm had already led to a tragic incident.
According to her, a 24-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Kulaha Ayuba, was wrongly identified as a bandit and attacked by youths acting on unverified information.
“The victim was attacked and fatally assaulted, while his motorcycle was reportedly stolen.
“His body was subsequently discovered in a swamp within the community,” Adebisi said.
She added that 15 suspects had already been arrested in connection with the incident and were undergoing investigation.
Adebisi assured that anyone found guilty would be made to face the full consequences of the law.
She strongly condemned the spread of unverified and inflammatory information capable of triggering chaos, mob action, ethnic profiling and public disorder.
Residents were urged to ignore the viral messages and desist from sharing unverified reports on social media.
She also warned that individuals responsible for creating or spreading false and inciting content would be identified, investigated and prosecuted.
Such misinformation, she noted, could easily spark public panic, ethnic tension and violent reactions.
Adebisi stated that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, has appealed for calm, urging residents to remain peaceful, alert and law-abiding.
“He urged residents to go about their lawful activities without fear,” she said.
The police spokesperson further advised members of the public to report suspicious movements or incidents through appropriate police channels rather than relying on unverified social media claims.
Adebisi reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
She assured residents that adequate security measures were still in place to maintain peace and stability across the state.
