Lagos Police Dismiss Boko Haram Arrest Claims Amid Rising Tensions

The Lagos State Police Command has strongly denied recent claims that hundreds of Boko Haram suspects were arrested in the state, calling the reports “false, malicious, and intended to incite panic.”

In a statement released on Friday, Police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin dismissed the viral report, revealing that an investigation ordered by Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, found no evidence of such arrests or even sightings of Boko Haram members anywhere in Lagos.

“There is nowhere throughout Lagos State that the group mentioned in the report—Boko Haram—were seen, sighted, or arrested,” Hundeyin stated.

He added that trailer park communities cited in the false report also confirmed no such arrests occurred, with leaders and operators in those areas dismissing the story as baseless.

Despite the lack of evidence, police deployed surveillance units and intelligence teams to verify the claims, only to find nothing to support the allegations. Hundeyin condemned the publication as “despicable,” warning the public not to fall for what he described as a deliberate attempt to stir fear and undermine public trust.

“The report is a figment of the writer’s imagination and should be ignored,” he emphasized.

In a pointed warning to media outlets, the police urged journalists not to allow their platforms to be used to spread fake news or disrupt the relative peace in Lagos. The command reassured residents of their safety and the continued protection of lives and property.

The controversy has sparked online backlash, with critics questioning whether the police are being transparent or downplaying potential threats. Others, however, have praised the swift response to debunk what they view as dangerous misinformation.