The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old university student for allegedly originating and circulating a fake social media report claiming that bandits had invaded parts of the state.
Commissioner of Police Daniel Iyamah disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Yenagoa on Friday.
The false report, which surfaced on June 5, 2026, claimed that armed bandits had infiltrated communities in the state and were being held by militants who were demanding a ₦50 million ransom.
The misinformation caused widespread panic, especially in Polaku Community and surrounding areas, where parents rushed to schools to pick up their children and commercial activities were disrupted.
Iyamah said the command promptly deployed personnel for on-the-spot assessments and intelligence gathering, which confirmed the claims were entirely false.
The suspect, identified as Promise Etete, a 300-level student of the University of Uyo and an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was tracked and arrested through intelligence-led policing and digital investigation.
He is currently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, where he is assisting investigators.
The police commissioner warned against the irresponsible use of social media, stressing that cyberspace is not beyond the reach of law enforcement.
He urged residents to always verify security-related information before sharing it.Iyamah reassured the public that there was no bandit invasion, no attack on schools, and no immediate threat to public safety in the state.
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