Osun authorities detain individual for reportedly fabricating story of bandit attack

A 22-year-old man has been taken into custody by the Osun Police Command for allegedly disseminating false information regarding a bandits' invasion of the state, as stated in a statement released on Friday in Osogbo by DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command's spokesperson.

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The suspect's arrest was made due to his alleged role in spreading misleading content on social media, which is an offence under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and other relevant laws, according to Ojelabi.

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On Monday, the suspect had published a video on his Facebook account, falsely claiming that bandits had invaded the state, which triggered widespread panic among residents, Ojelabi noted.

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Preliminary investigations revealed that the video was misleading, and the footage actually showed members of the public restraining an individual with a mental illness, as explained by Ojelabi.

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The suspect was arrested on Wednesday but was later released after his aged parents made a passionate appeal, and he has since tendered a public apology, with a warning against repeating such actions.

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Osun Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, cautioned the public against spreading unverified information that could incite fear or disrupt public peace, as stated by Ojelabi.

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The command has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on the misuse of digital platforms to circulate harmful falsehoods, according to Ojelabi.