By: Ganiyu Olayinka
The Ogun State Government has declared as false and unfounded reports circulating on social media alleging plans by Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram insurgents, and other terrorist groups to invade the state.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government said intelligence reports and security assessments from relevant agencies confirmed that Ogun State remains safe and secure, urging residents not to be swayed by misinformation designed to incite public panic.
“The Ogun State Government has noted with dismay the rumours circulating on social media indicating that the state faces an imminent threat of invasion by killer herders, Boko Haram terrorists fleeing military operations in the North-East, and other criminal groups,” Akinmade said. “The true situation is that there is no such threat. Security agencies across the state are on high alert, and adequate measures have been put in place to checkmate any individual or group seeking to foment trouble.”
Akinmade said some actors appeared to be exploiting security challenges in other parts of the country to manufacture fear among Ogun residents in conducts he described as “highly irresponsible.” He added that security agencies had identified and arrested some of those responsible for spreading the false narratives, and that prosecutions were underway.
“This should serve as a clear warning to anyone seeking to deliberately spread misinformation or disrupt public peace,” he said. “The government will continue to work with security agencies to ensure those who engage in such acts are held accountable.”
The statement highlighted strong collaboration among security agencies, local authorities, traditional institutions, and community stakeholders as a key factor in maintaining peace across the state, and said the government was working to deepen ties between conventional security structures and grassroots traditional security networks.
Tags: #Ogun state #Governor Dapo Abiodun #Kayode Akinmade