The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old suspect, Promise Etete, for allegedly originating and circulating false information about a bandit attack that caused widespread panic across parts of the state.
Speaking during a press briefing in Yenagoa, the Commissioner of Police, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, said the misleading social media post, which circulated on June 5, 2026, falsely claimed that bandits had infiltrated parts of Bayelsa and were being held by militants demanding ransom.
According to the police commissioner, the report triggered fear among residents, leading parents to rush to schools to pick up their children, while commercial activities were temporarily disrupted.
He said the command immediately deployed operational and intelligence assets to verify the claims and discovered that the information was entirely false and without any factual basis.
Through intelligence-led policing, digital investigations and technical tracking, detectives identified and arrested Etete, who is currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). The suspect has reportedly made useful statements to investigators.
Edebor warned against the irresponsible use of social media, stressing that cyberspace is not beyond the reach of law enforcement agencies. He urged residents to verify security-related information before sharing it and reassured the public that there was no bandit invasion, attack on schools, or threat to public safety as alleged in the viral post.
In a separate development, the police also arrested one Ibobuminaten Oweifa, son of the traditional ruler of Okodi Community, over an alleged attempted murder incident.
The suspect was accused of tying a man, Godgift Biko, with wire and setting him ablaze after accusing him of stealing wood. The victim was rescued and taken to a clinic in Okodi Community, where he received first aid treatment.
The police said the Divisional Police Officer promptly arrested the suspect and that investigations are ongoing. The command condemned all forms of violence and jungle justice, assuring that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.