The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that armed bandits have invaded communities such as Ibeju-Lekki, Imota and Oke-Afo, describing the claims as baseless and misleading.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said there was no evidence of any coordinated attack on schools or communities anywhere in the state. She noted that the reports were fabricated to create fear and panic among residents.
According to the command, security agencies remain on alert across Lagos, with schools and communities continuing to operate under normal conditions.
The police, however, disclosed that the false alarm had already resulted in a tragic incident. A 24-year-old commercial motorcyclist, identified as Kulaha Ayuba, was allegedly attacked and killed after being wrongly accused of being a bandit.
Investigations revealed that some youths in the community, acting on unverified information about an alleged invasion, profiled the victim as a Fulani bandit and assaulted him. His motorcycle was reportedly taken, while his body was later recovered from a nearby swamp.
The command confirmed that 15 persons have been arrested in connection with the killing and are currently being investigated.
Police authorities vowed that everyone found responsible for the mob action would be prosecuted, adding that individuals who create or deliberately spread false information capable of inciting violence, public disorder or ethnic tension would also face legal consequences.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, urged residents to remain calm and rely on verified security information. He advised members of the public to report suspicious activities through official channels rather than acting on social media rumours.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Abdullahi Olowa, has appealed to residents to avoid ethnic profiling and taking the law into their own hands following concerns over the movement of unfamiliar persons into some communities.
Similarly, the Imota Local Council Development Area reassured residents that the area remains peaceful, dismissing viral claims and radio reports alleging that two schoolgirls were killed during a supposed bandit attack on a primary school in the community.
Authorities maintain that Lagos remains secure and have called on residents to ignore false security alerts capable of causing unnecessary panic.