The Oyo State Police Command has urged residents to disregard a trending video alleging an invasion of the State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The video, currently circulating on social media, claims that suspected Boko Haram members were arrested along the Ibadan Expressway with trucks allegedly loaded with motorcycles and weapons.
But the command’s spokesperson, CSP Adewale Osifeso, dismissed the clip as a “recycled video” from 2022, describing it as misleading and aimed at inciting unnecessary panic.
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to address the recent circulation of misleading information on social media regarding a video that purportedly shows an attempted invasion of the state by Boko Haram elements intercepted along the Ibadan Expressway,” Osifeso said.
He added, “The video, which allegedly depicts articulated trucks filled with motorcycles and weapons, has been verified as a recycled clip from 2022.”
He added that the timing of the video’s re-emergence — amid heightened security in the state — suggested a deliberate attempt by mischief-makers to sow fear and unrest among the populace.
“We urge the public to remain calm and vigilant. The content of the video does not reflect any current threat to the safety and security of Oyo State,” he said.
To further debunk the video’s credibility, Osifeso pointed out that the Divisional Crime Officer of Ilora Division, DSP Segun Adeyemo, who briefly appeared in the video, officially retired from the police in August 2024.
The command also cautioned the public against spreading unverified content, especially on social media, and encouraged residents to verify information through official sources.
