The Ogun State Police Command on Wednesday dismissed claims of an imminent bandit attack as contained in some viral video clips circulating in the state.
The command said that its investigation has shown that these videos were generated from Artificial Intelligence by a group of criminals for the sole purpose of spreading falsehood and panic across the country.
The command stated that while its operatives are diligently working to bring to book the criminals behind the fake video clips, the residents of the state should go about their lawful activities, as every measure has been put in place to ensure that nothing hurts the security architecture of the state.
The spokesperson of the state police command, Chief Superintendent of Police Omolola Odutola, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement made available to journalists.
Odutola said that “The command wishes to address the concerns arising from the circulation of video clips on social media in which an unidentified individual issues a threat against certain communities and tertiary institutions in the State.
“Following a forensic analysis by our cybercrime and intelligence units, the Command hereby states as follows:
“The circulating video clips were created using artificial intelligence (AI) by a clandestine individual or group of persons yet to be identified. The content did not originate from any known terrorist organisation or operational cell.
“The Ogun State Police Command is working with determination and precision to uncover the identity of the individual or network responsible for generating and circulating these misleading video clips.
“The earliest appearance of the footage was traced to a foreign online source approximately three months ago, after which the content resurfaced in varying forms on different platforms.
“At present, there is no credible intelligence indicating any planned attack on Ogun State or any of its communities, schools, or public institutions.”
The command has therefore urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified materials, and continue their lawful activities without fear.
The police also encouraged residents to promptly report any suspicious persons, movements, or activities to the nearest police formation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has further directed increased surveillance, enhanced patrol, and sustained inter-agency collaboration to ensure continuous peace and security of all residents.
The command stated that the state remains safe, stable, and fully secured and that, in conjunction with other agencies and stakeholders, the police remain unwavering in their commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.
