The Executive Chairman of Oluyole Local Government in Oyo State, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, has vowed to prosecute a lady featured in a viral video alleging a mass abduction of school children in Bare community area of the Council.
Olatunji described the claim in the video as false, misleading and has caused panic among residents as well as spread untrue information on sensitive security matter.
The council boss stated that an on-the-spot verification visit carried out to the community by a delegation he personally led on Thursday, May 21, revealed that no incident of abduction occurred in the area, contrary to claims made in the widely circulated video.
According to the local government chairman, the visit involved consultations with community leaders and residents who reportedly dismissed the allegation as baseless and unfounded.
Speaking during the verification exercise, the Baale of Bare Community, Chief Zakariyahu Ewebiyi, condemned the spread of unverified information, warning that false security reports could heighten tension and create unnecessary fear among the public.
The traditional ruler maintained that the community did not witnessed any form of mass abduction as portrayed in the viral video.
“We appeal to members of the public to always verify information before spreading it, especially on social media.
“The report is false and misleading and does not reflect anything happening in our community,” the monarch said.
Residents who interacted with the delegation also denied knowledge of any such incident, insisting that normal activities had continued peacefully within the area.
The local government further disclosed that the young woman behind the viral video had released another video apologising to the public over the earlier claim.
According to Olatunji, the woman admitted in the apology video that she acted on hearsay and unverified information, acknowledging that her actions were borne out of ignorance.
She was said to have appealed for forgiveness from members of the public over the panic generated by the initial video.
Reacting to the apology in the video, the Oluyole Local Government said the matter would not be overlooked, stressing that the lady would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others fond of spreading false security information capable of creating public apprehension.
The council chairman said the action became necessary to discourage what he described as reckless dissemination of misinformation, particularly on sensitive security matters.
He urged residents of Oluyole Local Government to remain calm and continue their lawful activities, assuring them that security agencies at both mainstream and grassroots levels were working to guarantee safety across various communities in the council.
The delegation that visited the community also included the Peoples Democratic Party chairman in Oluyole Local Government, Alhaji Nasiru Hamzat, and the PDP Youth Leader in the council area, Alhaji Moruff Oladapo, both of whom are natives of Bare community.
