The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Johnson Elleh after he allegedly produced and circulated a video falsely claiming that kidnapping and banditry were occurring along the Owode-Idiroko axis of the state.
The video went viral before police intervened, prompting the Command to launch an immediate investigation into its contents. Detectives found no evidence of any kidnapping or banditry incident in the area or its surroundings and concluded that the video was fabricated to generate fear and public alarm.
Investigators identified Elleh because he appeared in the video himself. He was subsequently arrested and, during preliminary questioning, allegedly confessed to intentionally creating and sharing the false content to drive online engagement and public reaction.
“His actions were capable of causing unnecessary public alarm, disrupting social order, and undermining public confidence in the security architecture of the State,” the Command said in a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi.
Investigation is ongoing. The Command said Elleh will be charged in court upon its conclusion.
The arrest is the latest in what the Command described as a continuing effort to prosecute individuals who spread unverified security-related information online. Officials warned that creating, publishing, or sharing such content constitutes a threat to public peace and will attract prosecution “irrespective of status or motive.”
The Command sought to reassure residents that Ogun State “remains safe, peaceful, and secure,” and urged the public to rely only on information from official channels.
Anyone with emergencies or credible security information can reach the Command via its toll-free Gateway Shield line at 0800 000 9111, or through emergency lines: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, and 0708 497 2994.
