Police arrest student over fake bandit invasion report in Bayelsa
Bayelsa Police Arrest University Student for Spreading False Rumor
YENAGOA, Bayelsa – The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old university student accused of creating and disseminating a false social media report regarding an alleged bandit invasion in the state. The individual, identified as Promise Etete, a third-year student at the University of Uyo, is accused of posting misinformation that claimed armed bandits had invaded local communities and were being held by militants demanding a ransom of ₦50 million.
Police Commissioner Daniel Iyamah announced the arrest during a press conference on Friday. He stated that the misleading post, which emerged on June 5, 2026, incited fear among residents and disrupted both commercial and academic activities in the region.
“The publication generated widespread concern among residents and triggered panic in several communities,” Iyamah said. The report particularly affected Polaku Community and surrounding areas, leading concerned parents to rush to schools to retrieve their children as business operations temporarily ceased.
Following the emergence of the false report, police operatives immediately initiated an investigation, deploying intelligence and operational teams to verify the claims. “After extensive assessments and intelligence gathering, it became evident that the circulated information was entirely false,” Iyamah added.
The police utilized digital investigation techniques and technical tracking to identify and apprehend Etete. He is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and has been cooperating with the ongoing investigation by providing statements.
Iyamah warned against the misuse of social media platforms, asserting that law enforcement would not tolerate the spread of information that could incite public panic. “I urge individuals to refrain from using social media irresponsibly and to verify security-related information before sharing,” he said.
The commissioner reassured Bayelsa residents that there was no bandit invasion, no attacks on schools, and no credible threats to public safety as suggested in the viral report.
