Law enforcement officials in Bayelsa State have taken a 23-year-old, Promise Etete, into custody for spreading fabricated claims regarding a bandit assault. Commissioner of Police Iyamah Daniel Edebor stated during a Thursday press conference that the suspect posted viral misinformation on June 5, 2026, alleging that militants had captured bandits in the state. This report triggered unnecessary panic, leading parents to collect children from school and halting local commerce.
Edebor explained that investigators used digital tracking to locate Etete, who is now being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department. The Commissioner cautioned the public against sharing unverified security reports that incite chaos, confirming that no such invasion occurred.
In a separate case, police arrested Ibobuminaten Oweifa, the son of a traditional leader in Okodi. He faces allegations of attempted murder after reportedly binding a local resident, Godgift Biko, with wire and setting him on fire following an accusation of wood theft. The victim was rescued and given medical attention. The command emphasized that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for jungle justice and vowed to prosecute the suspect once the investigation is complete.
