The Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force have intensified efforts to curb the spread of fake news and alarmist reports, leading to a series of arrests in different parts of the country in recent days.
Among those arrested is Ifechukwu Dennis, who was apprehended by the Inspector-General of Police’s crack team in Benin City over an AI-generated audio clip falsely attributed to President Bola Tinubu.
Authorities said the manipulated voice note, which circulated widely on social media, contained inflammatory claims and was designed to mislead the public.
In Osun State, police arrested a man accused of circulating false reports of a bandit invasion, an action security agencies said created unnecessary panic among residents. The command warned citizens against disseminating unverified information capable of threatening public peace.
Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command arrested Pastor Amos Joel and another suspect over claims of a bandits’ attack on a community, which investigators later described as false. Authorities said the report caused fear and confusion before it was debunked.
The latest crackdown comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of social media and artificial intelligence tools to spread misinformation.
Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to tracking and prosecuting individuals responsible for fake news, warning that the dissemination of false information poses a serious threat to national security and public order.
Recent cases suggest that the Federal Government and law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts to tackle misinformation and panic-inducing reports across the country.
