The Kwara State Police Command has dismissed viral social media reports claiming that suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Ilorin, describing the information as false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Command stressed that no Boko Haram suspect has been apprehended anywhere in Kwara State.
According to the statement, the rumour circulating online was entirely unfounded and posed a risk of creating fear and tension among residents.
The Command explained that what actually occurred was a routine intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), who intercepted a truck carrying a group of Fulani travellers within Ilorin metropolis on Tuesday night.
During the operation, the police said the vehicle and its occupants were properly screened, searched, and profiled in line with standard security procedures.
Authorities confirmed that no weapons, incriminating materials, or security threats were discovered during the exercise. The travellers reportedly stated that they were en route to Jigawa State, and their details were documented before they were allowed to continue their journey under police escort.
In a related development, the Command also confirmed the arrest of three suspected armed robbers and vandals in a separate intelligence-driven operation along the Asa Dam/Dangote Road axis of Ilorin.
Police said the suspects were apprehended following reports of rising criminal activity in the area, particularly vandalisation of government-installed solar-powered infrastructure and armed robbery-related incidents.
Items recovered from the suspects included locally made pistols, pliers, and suspected illicit drugs, which are believed to have been used in their operations.
Preliminary investigations reportedly linked the suspects to a wider criminal network operating within parts of Ilorin metropolis.
The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, commended the operatives of the VCRU for their swift and intelligence-based response, reiterating the Command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against crime across the state.
He also urged residents to disregard fake reports and avoid spreading unverified information capable of disturbing public peace.
The Police Command reassured the public that security agencies remain alert and will not allow criminal elements to operate freely within Kwara State.