The Osun State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly spreading false claims of a bandit invasion in the state.
According to The PUNCH, the suspect posted a video on Facebook claiming bandits had entered Osun, triggering panic among residents. Police investigations, however, found that the footage actually showed members of the public restraining a person with mental illness.
Police spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi said the suspect was arrested for disseminating misleading content online, an offence punishable under the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant laws.
Although he was apprehended on Wednesday, the suspect was later released after appeals from his elderly parents. He has since apologised publicly and was warned against repeating the act.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan urged residents to verify information before sharing it, stressing that the command remains committed to tackling the spread of false and panic-inducing content across digital platforms, as reported by The PUNCH.
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