Trending video of Boko Haram invasion misleading, say police

Oyo State Government has warned agitators in the Oyo/Osun boundary dispute to sheathe their swords. In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government urged both sides of the divide to stop the blame game and allow the two state governments to continue mature discussions on the resolution to the land dispute.

Oyelade said that the two state governments believed that the protracted land dispute is not intractable and traditional institutions should not be a clog in the wheel of peaceful resolution.

According to him, Governors Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke are cooperating fully with the National Boundary Commission through their representatives and believe that an amicable solution will be reached soon.

MEANWHILE, the Oyo State Police Command has said that the trending video that Boko Haram had invaded Oyo Town is misleading. According to a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Osifeso Adewale, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the video is a recycled material by mischief makers.

Osifeso said that the act was a deliberate attempt by certain individuals with malicious intent, seeking to spread falsehoods and incite fear and unrest within the community.

The statement read in part: “The Oyo State Police Command wishes to address the recent circulation of misleading information on social media regarding a video that purportedly shows an attempted invasion of Oyo State by Boko Haram elements intercepted along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway.

“The video, which allegedly depicts articulated trucks filled with motorcycles and weapons, has been verified as a recycled clip from 2022. We wish to assure the public that this does not pose any current threat to the safety and security of Oyo State. “The re-emergence of this video, particularly during a period of enhanced security, suggests a deliberate attempt by certain individuals with malicious intent, seeking to spread falsehoods and incite fear and unrest within the community.

“To further substantiate our claim regarding the video’s outdated nature, we note that the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) at the Ilero Divisional Police Headquarters, DSP Segun Adeyemo, who appeared briefly in the video, retired from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in August 2024 after a long period of meritorious service.”

The command, therefore, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the safety and security of all residents in Oyo State. It also urged citizens to adopt a cautious approach when sharing information, ensuring that it is thoroughly verified through credible sources before dissemination on social media and other platforms, thereby mitigating the risk of public alarm and disruption to social order. The command urged the public to remain vigilant and disregard such antics.