By Uzoma Akobundu
The police in Ogun State have said there was no truth that some people were attacked on the Lagos/Ibadan expressway by some herdsmen which was trending on the social media on Wednesday.
The Police said such claims were false and that the picture of the so-called incident had been established to have occurred in July 2010 as an accident.
The police frowned on those peddling the rumour and using same to create unnecessary panic in the state and environs, warning that the law will catch up with them if arrested.
The Ogun State Police Command spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi issued a statement clarifying the situation and urging members of the public to ignore the said incident as there was nothing of such.
Oyeyemi wrote: “The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been once again drawn to an alleged attack by herdsmen along Lagos/Ibadan expressway as well as an anonymous security alert letter written by a faceless student group urging students and members of public not to travel along that route. The faceless group also posted a simulated voice recording on social media where some people are crying and pleading with their alleged attackers not to kill them.
“The Command wouldn’t have dignify the disgruntled elements with a response but in order to allay the fears of public, the true security situation along that axis has to be made known to all and sundry.
“To start with, there is no any attack by herdsmen or any other group in all the stretch of Express Ways across and within Ogun State, we make bold to say that the alleged attack been posted on social media is a lie from pit of hell fire been peddled by those who are not happy with the peaceful atmosphere in Ogun State. The picture attached to the post is a picture of an accident which occurred about Eight years ago exactly on the 31st of July 2010 to be precised; while the purported voice recording was a stage-managed one.
“The Lagos/Ibadan express road is one of the busiest roads in Nigeria and the Command is not oblivious of that fact, for that reason, there has been massive deployment of Police operatives from FSARS, Anti-Kidnapping/cultist unit, PMF as well as Conventional Policemen on surveillance and monitoring operatives and patrols to ward off any act of criminal activities on that road.
“In as much as there is freedom of speech as guaranteed by the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, such freedom does not licensed anybody to be peddling dangerous rumours that can cause breach of public peace. In view of that, the Command is investigating those behind the senseless rumour with the view of bringing them to justice as they can be best described as enemy of the State.
“We hereby enjoined the good and peace loving people of the State to discountenance the rumour and go about their lawful businesses without any fear of harassment or attack from anybody or group. Any suspicious movement or gathering should be reported to the Police and other sister security agencies as quick as possible and quick and adequate response will be accorded such report.”