A content creator who identifies as Johnson Elleh has been arrested by the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly producing and circulating a misleading video claiming that kidnapping and banditry activities were taking place along the Owode-Idiroko axis of the state.
According to the state’s Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, in a statement on Thursday, the video was false and could create fear and panic among residents.
The force spokesman further stressed that the command acted immediately upon receiving the viral video, subjected its contents to proper scrutiny, and launched an investigation to verify the claims.
According to him, police findings showed that the video was deliberately created to mislead the public.
“Findings revealed that the video was false, misleading, and deliberately designed to create fear, panic, and anxiety among members of the public,” he said.
The police spokesperson said further checks by the command showed that there was no kidnapping or banditry incident in the Owode-Idiroko axis or any nearby community as portrayed in the video.
He added that detectives later identified the suspect after discovering that he featured in the video.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspect was featured in the video and was subsequently identified by detectives, leading to his arrest,” Babaseyi stated.
He explained that the preliminary investigation revealed that Elleh allegedly fabricated and circulated the false security claim for attention and content creation purposes.
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According to the police, the suspect’s actions had the potential to cause public alarm, disturb social order, and weaken public confidence in the state’s security arrangements.
“His actions were capable of causing unnecessary public alarm, disrupting social order, and undermining public confidence in the security architecture of the state,” the statement added.
Babaseyi further disclosed that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted that he intentionally created and circulated the misleading video to attract online engagement and provoke public reaction.
“During the course of the investigation, the suspect reportedly confessed to intentionally creating and disseminating the misleading content to generate online engagement and public reaction,” he said.
The command said the investigation into the matter was still ongoing and that the suspect would be charged in court at its conclusion.
