The Oyo State Police Command has warned civilians to ignore a viral video posted on social media by suspected separatist groups issuing eviction orders to herders in the state’s Igboho area.
SP Adewale Osifeso, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, issued the statement in Ibadan on Wednesday.
Osifeso claimed that the video, which leaked online in the early hours of Tuesday, was expressly created by mischief-makers to undermine the state’s relative quiet by encouraging violence and civil unrest.
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to dispel unfounded rumours and speculations across certain segments, making the round on social media, over the purported eviction of herders at Igboho, Oorelope, and local government areas by suspected separatist group members as misleading and complete falsehood.
“No notice of eviction was pronounced by any individual or group on anyone at any period in time,” Osifeso said.
He stated that the state commissioner of police, Ayodele Sonubi, has directed the supervising area commander in charge to personally lead confidence-building patrols and improve the visibility of personnel throughout the jurisdiction.
Osifeso further stated that more command operational, intelligence, and tactical assets had been deployed to avert any unforeseen incidents.
