The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 38-year-old man, Destiny Ekhorutomuen, for allegedly using social media platforms to disseminate false and inciting information aimed at damaging the police’s reputation and provoking public discontent.
Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed the arrest in a statement on Friday, stating that operatives from the National Cyber Crime Centre apprehended the suspect in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State on December 8, 2024.
“The suspect allegedly created and operated multiple social media accounts to spread false and inciting content designed to provoke the public against the Nigeria Police,” Adejobi said.
The police expressed concern over the dangers posed by the deliberate spread of falsehoods, describing it as a threat to national security, public trust, and societal harmony.
“This deliberate spread of falsehoods erodes public trust, undermines societal cohesion, and poses significant risks to national security,” the statement noted.
Adejobi reiterated the police’s zero-tolerance stance toward the misuse of social media to propagate fake news or incite disorder, emphasizing that such actions are criminal offences under Nigerian law.
“The Nigeria Police reiterates its zero tolerance for acts aimed at threatening the nation’s stability or tarnishing the reputation of the police and other government institutions,” he stated.
The police also called on Nigerians to act responsibly in their use of social media, urging citizens to prioritize national unity and peace.
“Citizens are urged to exercise caution and responsibility in their use of information, as the collective peace and unity of the nation depend on it,” Adejobi added.
