The Lagos State Police Command has firmly dismissed recent media reports claiming that hundreds of Boko Haram suspects were apprehended across various locations in the state. In a statement issued on Friday, Police Spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin described the publication as entirely false and designed to create unnecessary panic among residents.
The clarification came after Lagos Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh ordered an immediate investigation into the alarming claims. According to Hundeyin, thorough checks conducted by surveillance teams and intelligence officers across trailer parks and other mentioned locations confirmed no presence or arrests of Boko Haram members. Community leaders and transport operators in these areas also denied any such incidents.
“The report is not only baseless but maliciously intended to disrupt the peace Lagosians currently enjoy,” Hundeyin stated. He emphasized that the police found no evidence supporting the story after deploying detectives from the State Intelligence Department and other tactical units to verify the claims.
Authorities have urged the public to disregard the publication, assuring residents of their safety while encouraging vigilance. The police spokesperson cautioned media houses against spreading unverified information that could incite fear, reminding journalists of their responsibility to fact-check sensitive security matters before publication.
The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across Lagos, advising citizens to report any suspicious activities through emergency lines or at nearest police stations. This denial comes amid ongoing security operations nationwide, with Lagos maintaining its status as one of Nigeria’s most secure states despite periodic criminal challenges unrelated to terrorism.
