Osun police arrested a 22-year-old man on Wednesday for posting a misleading video on Facebook that falsely claimed bandits had invaded the state, triggering panic among residents.
The suspect shared the video on Monday through his Facebook account. Police spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi said the post spread false information in violation of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and other relevant laws.
When investigators looked into the matter, they discovered the footage did not show what the man claimed. "The footage shared by the suspect actually showed members of the public restraining an individual with a mental illness," Ojelabi said. The misleading post had already caused widespread alarm among Osun residents by the time police moved in.
The man did not spend long in custody. After his arrest on Wednesday, his elderly parents made an emotional appeal on his behalf, and police released him. He has since apologised publicly for spreading the false information and was warned not to repeat such conduct.
Osun Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan used the case to caution the public against sharing unverified claims that could frighten people or disrupt public peace. The police command said it maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the misuse of social media and digital platforms to spread harmful falsehoods.
