Police arrest a man for sharing a fake video of a bandit attack in Ekiti State, warning against misinformation and panic on social media
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Sunday Olawale, for allegedly circulating a fake video claiming a bandit attack on Are Ekiti in Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
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Police spokesperson Sunday Abutu confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, noting that the suspect was tracked down and apprehended by operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad.
According to the police, Sunday Olawale was arrested at the Ekute area of Ado Ekiti for cyberstalking and spreading false information capable of causing panic and disrupting public order.
The police said the viral video, which circulated on social media on June 12, 2026, falsely claimed that bandits had invaded Are Ekiti. Authorities later confirmed that no such attack occurred anywhere in the state.
“The suspect confessed to having peddled the false information on social media and was unable to give any satisfactory reason for his action,” the statement said.
Police further stressed that there was no bandit invasion in Are Ekiti or any part of Ekiti State, describing the report as entirely false.
The Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, warned residents against spreading unverified information, noting that the Command would not tolerate fake news capable of triggering fear or insecurity.
He urged members of the public to always verify information before sharing it on social media, adding that misinformation remains a serious threat to public safety.
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The suspect is expected to face charges after the conclusion of investigations.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
