The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed social media reports to the effect that armed bandits invaded parts of the state, including Ibeju-Lekki, Imota and Oke-Afo, describing the information as false and capable of causing public panic.
The report came amid surge in kidnapping by suspected Fulani bandits in the south west.
Dozens of students and teachers kidnapped in Ogbomosho, Oyo state more than two weeks ago, are still in kidnappers’ den as security agencies struggle to free them.
In a statement issued on Monday, the command said there was no security breach or coordinated attack on schools or communities anywhere in Lagos, urging residents to disregard the circulating messages on social media.
The police said the false alarm had already resulted in a tragic incident, as a 24-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Kulaha Ayuba, was allegedly lynched by a mob after being wrongly accused of being a “Fulani bandit.”
According to the command, the victim’s body was later recovered from a swamp, while his motorcycle was stolen. Police operatives subsequently arrested 15 suspects in connection with the killing, with investigations still ongoing.
Condemning the spread of unverified information, the command warned that those responsible for creating or sharing false and inflammatory content capable of inciting violence, ethnic profiling or public disorder would face prosecution.
Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, called on residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, while reporting suspicious activities through official security channels.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, assuring residents that adequate security measures remain in place.
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