Police debunk viral video claiming arrival of 300 “Lakurawa” terrorists in Oyo

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Oyo State Police Command has affirmed a viral video alleging the movement of about 300 “Lakurawa” terrorists into the state to be false and deliberately misleading.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, cleared the deceitful information in a statement on Sunday.

“The Oyo State Police Command, following a comprehensive forensic analysis and intelligence-based verification, has confirmed that the viral video alleging the movement of about 300 Lakurawa terrorists into Oyo State is false, misleading, and deliberately crafted to cause fear, panic, and heightened tension among members of the public,” DSP Olayinka said.

A forensic review, the statement said, showed the voice overlay in the circulated clip — purportedly by “Alhaji Muftau from Kontagora” — matched previously debunked false information.

Further intelligence from operatives deployed to border communities and the Command’s early-warning systems found “no evidence to support the claim contained in the video.”

A joint verification with neighbouring police commands, the release added, “independently confirmed that the information is entirely unfounded.”

Investigators also determined that the footage “was neither recorded in Nigeria nor is it a recent occurrence,” reinforcing the conclusion that the material was intended to mislead the public.

The Command warned that anyone found spreading false information “intended to incite panic or disrupt public order will be investigated and made to face the full weight of the law.”

The statement emphasised the police’s continued focus on maintaining peace and public confidence under the leadership of Commissioner of Police CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga.

“As part of its ongoing mandate to maintain peace and public confidence, the Oyo State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the State,” the PPRO said, adding that the Command will continue to use “all lawful measures to preserve the security gains recorded in recent times.”

Members of the public were advised to “rely only on verified and official channels for security-related information and to remain calm and law-abiding.”