The Osun State Police Command has apprehended a 22-year-old man, identified as Odetayo Adebayo Samuel from Ila Orangun, for allegedly creating and disseminating a false video on social media that claimed bandits had invaded the state. The suspect posted the misleading video on his Facebook account on June 1, 2026, causing widespread panic among residents who viewed and shared the content across various platforms [4, 5, 9].

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the video footage did not depict a bandit attack. Instead, it showed members of the public restraining an individual experiencing a mental health crisis [4, 5, 9]. The Osun State Police Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, confirmed the arrest on June 3, 2026 [4, 5].

Despite the initial apprehension, the suspect was later released following a heartfelt appeal from his elderly parents and a public apology he tendered. He was subsequently warned against repeating such actions [4, 5, 9].

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan used the incident to caution the public against circulating unverified information that could incite fear or disturb public peace. He reiterated the command's firm stance against the misuse of digital platforms for spreading falsehoods and urged residents to always verify information before sharing it online [4, 5, 9, 12]. The police emphasized that spreading such false alarms is an offense contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and other relevant laws [5].